BOCC Internet Department Applications



CAPTIONING

MAY 14, 2014

BOCC AWARDS & RECOGNITION CEREMONY

***This is not an official, verbatim transcript of the ***following meeting. It should be used for informational ***purposes only. This document has not been edited; ***therefore, there may be additions, deletions, or words ***that did not translate.

>>MARK SHARPE: GOOD AFTERNOON.

IT'S MAY 15th, AND WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HOLDS A QUARTERLY RECOGNITION AND AWARDS CEREMONY TO THANK ITS CITIZENS AND EMPLOYEES WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO IMPROVE THE COUNTY THROUGH THEIR VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, CIVIC APPOINTMENTS, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.

WE'RE GOING TO START THE PROGRAM WITH THE PLEDGE AND PRAYER FROM COMMISSIONER MILLER.

[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

>>LES MILLER, JR.: OUR GRACIOUS AND HEAVENLY FATHER, WE'RE SO THANKFUL THAT YOU ALLOWED US TO SEE ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL DAYS.

WE'RE THANKFUL THAT YOU ALLOWED THESE PEOPLE TO COME OUT TO BE WITH US TODAY, THOSE WHO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY, THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THAT THE SPACE WE OCCUPY THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US IS TO GIVE BACK TO THOSE WHO MAY NEED IT THE MOST.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR YOU HAVING THEM HERE WITH US TODAY, FATHER.

WE ASK THAT YOU GUIDE THEM, COMFORT THEM, AND KEEP THEM AND PUT YOUR LOVING ARMS AROUND THEM AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY THING THAT THEY DO, WHETHER THEY'RE EMPLOYEES, CIVIC LEADERS, OR JUST SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO MAKE LIVES BETTER.

AND, FATHER, WE ASK WHEN WE LEAVE THIS PLACE, YOU TAKE US BACK TO FIND OUR HOMES SAFE AND SOUND.

THESE AND ALL BLESSINGS WE ASK IN YOUR NAME.

AMEN.

>> AMEN.

>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, AGAIN, COMMISSIONER MILLER, FOR THAT WONDERFUL PRAYER.

OKAY.

THE FIRST AWARD WILL BE DELIVERED BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN TO THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT.

>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT OUR FIRST AWARD THIS AFTERNOON.

I'D LIKE TO ASK KIM BYER, DAMIEN TRAMMELL, PATTI CONOVER, SHAWN BISSON, AND JAMES RANSOM TO PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>>MARK SHARPE: PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM.

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>>MARK SHARPE: YES.

RIGHT TO THE PODIUM RIGHT THERE.

YES.

>>KEN HAGAN: GOOD AFTERNOON.

EACH YEAR THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION PRESENTS THE PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS OF THE YEAR TO PROMOTE EXCELLENCE IN MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS.

I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WAS SELECTED AS THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENT OF THE APWA WEST COAST BRANCH ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD.

I'VE GOTTA TELL YOU, THE TRANSITION THAT WE EXPERIENCED WAS -- THIS PAST YEAR WAS EXTREMELY SMOOTH AND BEYOND -- WAY BEYOND MY EXPECTATIONS.

I CAN TELL YOU I WAS A BIT FRIGHTENED ON HOW IT WAS ALL GOING TO TURN OUT, BUT I MUST SAY IT HAS GONE EXTREMELY WELL, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU GUYS.

YOU DO A REMARKABLE JOB, AND WE'RE EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU, AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO COME DOWN AND PRESENT THIS AWARD TO YOU.

[APPLAUSE]

>> I'D LIKE TO THANK HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM.

WE HAD A FABULOUS TEAM.

OUR -- WE WERE GIVEN A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM OTHER DIVISIONS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS, FROM OUR COMMUNICATIONS TO OUR PUBLIC WORKS, PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE.

IT WAS A GROUP EFFORT, AND WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD TODAY.

[APPLAUSE]

>>MARK SHARPE: OKAY.

>>RUSLANA PANOV: VERY GOOD.

STAND BY.

ONE MORE TIME.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]

>>MARK SHARPE: AND OUR NEXT COMMENDATIONS WILL BE PRESENTED BY OUR WORLD TRAVELER, COMMISSIONER HIGGINBOTHAM.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IF WE COULD HAVE CHRIS POSTIGLIONE FROM REAL ESTATE AND FACILITIES, GEORGE LETO, ROYCE JOHNSON, WAYNE HANCOCK, GEORGE SHIVERS, DEAN MAY, BILLY GRAHAM, IF YOU'D PLEASE COME FORWARD.

YOU'RE NOT GETTING SHOT, SO COME ON UP HERE.

[LAUGHTER]

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: IT IS WITH A LOT OF PRIDE AND JOY FROM NOT ONLY MYSELF AND THIS BOARD BUT THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE THIS SPECIAL COMMENDATION AND RECOGNIZE YOU FOLKS.

A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WHEN I MADE THE PROPOSAL THAT WE PUT SOME FUNDS IN PARKS AND REC FOR CRICKET, IT DREW SOME -- SOME LONG EYES, AND PEOPLE KIND OF SAID, WELL, WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS CRICKET?

WELL, AS YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD ME SAY, CRICKET IS THE SECOND LARGEST SPORT IN THE WORLD.

YOUR HIGHEST-PAID ATHLETES ARE CRICKET PLAYERS, AND THERE WAS A NEED FOR PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO -- TO PLAY CRICKET AND EXPAND CRICKET, AND IT WAS THIS GROUP OF DEDICATED FOLKS FROM PARKS AND REC WHO FOUND AN INTEREST AND SHARED AN INTEREST THAT I HAVE AS WELL TO MAKE CRICKET AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO WANTED TO PLAY IT.

WHEN WE STARTED -- AND SATURDAY WE HAD WHAT WAS THE CONCLUSION OF WINTER SEASON WITH THE TOURNAMENTS, AND THEY WERE SHARING THAT THEY HAD SIX TEAMS WHEN THEY STARTED AND THEY'RE NOW CLOSE TO 40 TEAMS, AND WE'RE GROWING, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT FOR THIS COMMISSION, AND WILL TELL YOU THAT IT'S THE DIRECT LINK WHAT WE DID TO WORK WITH THE INDIAN COMMUNITY AND CRICKET THAT BROUGHT BOLLYWOOD HERE, SO JUST KNOW THAT WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IIFA, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOW WE'RE WORKING THROUGHOUT THIS COMMUNITY WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD THAT IT STARTED WITH YOU GUYS.

IT STARTED EMBRACING WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND I'M PROUD OF YOU AND GLAD TO WORK WITH YOU.

AND I ASSUME THERE'S A SPOKESMAN WHO WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING, AND THEN WE'LL COME UP FOR A PICTURE.

AND YOU ARE SINGING; RIGHT?

[LAUGHTER]

>> IT IS INDEED AN HONOR AND PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

IT WAS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE -- WITH THE GENTLEMEN FROM CRICKET.

WE HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH THEM.

THE FOOD IS GREAT.

BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT THEY BRING TO OUR COMMUNITY, SO OTHER THAN THAT, THANK YOU.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: WELL, THANK YOU.

AND I'VE GOT THE RECOGNITIONS FOR YOU, IF YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD FOR A PHOTO.

[APPLAUSE]

>>RUSLANA PANOV: CAN YOU GET CLOSER TOGETHER, PLEASE.

OKAY.

STAND BY.

ONE MORE TIME.

AND ONE MORE TIME.

THANK YOU.

>>MARK SHARPE: AND OUR NEXT COMMENDATION WILL BE PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER MILLER.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE TIMES THAT -- WHEN PEOPLE DO THINGS TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE, EVEN THOUGH IT MIGHT BE PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE, THEY DON'T THINK ABOUT WHAT MAY HAPPEN TO THEM, THEY JUST GO OUT AND THEY JUST DO IT.

IT'S INSTINCT, IT'S CARING ABOUT PEOPLE, AND THAT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT.

AND OFTENTIMES WE HEAR ABOUT THESE AND THEIR HEROIC EFFORTS, AND EVERYDAY CITIZENS PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO SAVE OTHERS, BUT TODAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF RECOGNIZING TWO HEROES.

THESE GENTLEMEN WENT INTO A BURNING HOUSE IN PROGRESS VILLAGE TO TRY TO SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE, SO I'M GOING TO ASK JOSEPH GIVENS, WHO IS THE SON OF ONE OF OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, BRIDGET GIVENS, AND DAVID WASHINGTON TO PLEASE COME FORWARD.

[APPLAUSE]

AND SOMEONE WAS JUST SURPRISED.

THESE TWO MEN -- I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY ON THIS.

THESE TWO MEN WENT INTO A HOUSE TO TRY TO SAVE AN ELDERLY GENTLEMAN WHEN HIS HOUSE WAS ON FIRE.

UNFORTUNATELY, HE DID PERISH, BUT THEY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO TRY TO SAVE THIS GENTLEMAN, AND IRONICALLY, THE GENTLEMAN THAT YOU TRIED TO SAVE WAS MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW'S UNCLE.

YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

YEAH, MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW'S UNCLE.

SHE LIVES IN TALLAHASSEE, SHE'S ADOPTED THERE, AND THAT WAS HER UNCLE THAT YOU PUT YOUR LIVES ON THE LINE TO TRY TO SAVE, AND FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS HERE, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HEROIC EFFORTS.

YOU MIGHT NOT THINK YOU'RE HEROES, BUT FOR YOU TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU'RE A HERO, AND ONE OF YOUR -- ONE OF -- GIVENS, YOU WANT TO COME UP HERE TO BE WITH YOUR SON?

[APPLAUSE]

THERE WE GO.

[LAUGHTER]

WE CAUGHT HER BY SURPRISE.

>>BRIDGET GIVENS: AND THIS IS MY DAUGHTER.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: THAT'S YOUR DAUGHTER.

OKAY.

SO THE CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION TO BOTH OF YOU READS, THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR SELFLESS ACT OF BRAVERY IN RESCUING AN ELDERLY GENTLEMAN FROM A DEADLY HOUSE FIRE.

MR. GIVENS AND MR. WASHINGTON SPOTTED FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE NEIGHBOR'S HOME AND IMMEDIATELY HELPED THE RESIDENT OUT OF THE HOUSE BEFORE FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED.

IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR COURAGE AND QUICK ACTIONS YOU DISPLAYED IN A TIME OF CRISIS, WE JOIN WITH OUR RESIDENTS IN EXPRESSING OUR IMMENSE GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO YOU.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.

SIGNED THIS 14th DAY OF MAY, 2014, AND SIGNED BY ALL SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION.

IT'S MY PLEASURE TO COME DOWN, AND ONE OF YOU CAN SAY SOMETHING OR BOTH OF YOU.

>> I'LL JUST SAY THANK YOU.

>> SAME HERE.

[APPLAUSE]

>>MARK SHARPE: AND, COMMISSIONER MILLER, I'D LIKE TO SAY TO THE TWO GENTLEMEN, WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE YOU IN OUR CHAMBERS, CITIZENS WHO STEPPED UP AND RISKED YOUR LIVES TO HELP OTHERS, AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY, MR. GIVENS, THAT YOUR MOM HAS A SMILE ON HER FACE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WHENEVER I SEE HER, SHE'S SMILING, SHE ALWAYS ASKS HOW I'M DOING, AND IT'S JUST AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH YOU.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]

>>RUSLANA PANOV: OKAY.

STAND BY.

ONE MORE TIME.

THANK YOU.

>>MARK SHARPE: NOW I HAVE THE HONOR OF MAKING A PRESENTATION.

WOULD GLORIA HERNANDEZ AND MS. MARY WOOD PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM.

MARY WOOD IS PRESIDENT AND CEO -- I HAVE TO BE -- I HAVE TO SAY OF ONE OF THE FINEST, BUT I THINK THE FINEST CREDIT UNION -- AND I'M GOING TO BE FAIR, SOMEONE WHO COULD BE OUT THERE WATCHING UPSET, BUT I THINK IT'S THE FINEST CREDIT UNION IN AMERICA, THE FLORIDA WEST COAST CREDIT UNION, AND YOU'LL BE RECOGNIZING THE WINNERS FROM THE EMPLOYEE CHALLENGE AWARD, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO ASK IF THE -- THOSE WINNERS WOULD PLEASE COME FORWARD.

THE EMPLOYEES' CHALLENGE AWARD IS DESIGNED TO RECOGNIZE AN OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE FOR MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY GOVERNMENT MORE EFFECTIVELY, EFFICIENTLY, AND WITH AVAILABLE FUNDING.

THE AWARD IS SPONSORED BY THE FLORIDA WEST COAST UNION, AND EACH WINNER IS GOING TO RECEIVE A CASH AWARD OF $250.

MARY, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EMPLOYEES' CHALLENGE AWARD AND ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO MEET THE CHALLENGES THE COUNTY HAS FACED AND CONTINUES TO FACE TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY AND SERVICES, AND NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, MA'AM.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SHARPE, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMERCIAL.

I COULDN'T HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB, SO THANK YOU.

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THEM ONE BY ONE AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND AROUND EACH EMPLOYEE.

THE FIRST ONE IS RUSS ELEF -- OOH, I ACTUALLY HAVE KNOWN RUSSELL A LONG TIME, ACTUALLY SINCE I'VE WORKED HERE, BUT WE'LL GO WITH RUSSELL "E," THEY TOLD ME.

>>MARK SHARPE: OKAY.

>> SO HE'S FROM PARKS, RECREATION, AND CONSERVATION, AND HE WAS TASKED WITH DEVELOPING AN ACTIVE ADULT RECREATION PROGRAM.

WITH HIS EXPERIENCE IN TENNIS, HE DECIDED PICKLE BALL, A SPORT TARGETED FOR ACTIVE SENIORS, WOULD BE IDEAL.

IT'S RIGHT THERE WITH CRICKET; RIGHT?

[LAUGHTER]

BY UTILIZING AVAILABLE RESOURCES, RUSSELL WAS ABLE TO IMPLEMENT A COUNTYWIDE PROGRAM WITHOUT ADDITIONAL IMPACT ON BUDGET.

HE ALSO PRESENTED A SESSION ON SENIOR PROGRAMMING AND PICKLE BALL FOR THE FLORIDA RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND HAS CONDUCTED A REGIONAL PICKLE BALL TOURNAMENT AS A FUNDRAISER FOR PARK'S WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL TEAM, AND THAT IS RUSSELL "E."

THE NEXT RECIPIENT IS CHARLES HOLLAND, JR., IN PUBLIC WORKS.

HE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING OVER 3,000 WORK ORDERS THAT WERE ASSIGNED AND THAT CITIZENS WERE CONTACTED BY THE SOUTH SERVICE UNIT TRANSPORTATION MAINTENANCE DIVISION.

THROUGH HIS EFFORTS, PRIORITIZING WORK HELPS REDUCE REDUNDANT WORK ORDERS, WASTED TIME, AND MONEY.

ADDITIONALLY, CHARLES HAS PROVIDED PRACTICAL IDEAS TO MANAGEMENT TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MAINTSTAR, A TRANSPORTATION MAINTENANCE SOFTWARE.

EACH OF CHARLES' ACTIONS SAVE TIME AND IMPROVES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PUBLIC WORKS SERVING THE PUBLIC.

AND THAT IS CHARLES.

THE NEXT ONE IS PATRICK MURRAY.

PATRICK W. MURRAY IS CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER IN THE CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

PATRICK AND HIS TEAM DEVELOPED A ROTATION SCHEDULE WHICH ENABLES CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES TO HANDLE OVER 6,000 CALLS A MONTH AND GREET EACH AND EVERY CUSTOMER WHO COMES TO THE DEPARTMENT.

IN ADDITION, PATRICK'S TEAM HELPED IMPLEMENT A NEW AUTOMATED PHONE SYSTEM THAT HAS RESULTED IN A 25% INCREASE IN TRANSACTIONS DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2014, AND THAT'S PATRICK.

AND THE LAST ONE IS NICK RAMPERSAUD FROM INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT, AND HE'S KNOWN FOR HIS ABILITY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO FORM CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS.

HE TAKES THE LEAD TO HAVE VENDORS COME ON-SITE TO EDUCATE STAFF ABOUT NEW AND FUTURE INNOVATIONS TO BETTER SERVE OUR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CLIENTS AND TO EFFICIENTLY MAXIMIZE THE COUNTY'S INVESTMENTS OF CONSTITUENTS' TAX DOLLARS IN TECHNOLOGY, AND THAT IS NICK.

SO THESE ARE THE FOUR RECIPIENTS RECEIVING THE $250 CHECK.

[APPLAUSE]

>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER HAGAN.

>>KEN HAGAN: NO, I JUST WANTED TO THANK MARY AND FLORIDA WEST COAST CREDIT UNION FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I KNOW THEY GENEROUSLY GIVE THESE AWARDS EVERY YEAR, BUT THEY DO SO MUCH MORE ON A WEEKLY BASIS, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, AND RUSSELL, HOW MANY DAYS UNTIL RETIREMENT?

>>RUSSELL ELEFTERION: LESS THAN A YEAR.

>>KEN HAGAN: LESS THAN A YEAR.

OKAY.

WELL, I'VE KNOWN RUSSELL A LONG TIME.

HE'S ONE OF OUR BEST EMPLOYEES, AND WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO MISS YOU.

>>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HAGAN.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY PATRICK'S ANOTHER ONE, JUST LIKE MS. GIVENS, HE ALWAYS HAS A SMILE ON HIS FACE, AND HE TELLS ME, THOUGH, HE PERSONALLY TAKES ALL 6,000 OF THOSE CALLS, ANSWERS EVERY --

[LAUGHTER]

HE SAYS FORGET EVERYBODY ELSE NOW, I'M THE ONE TAKING THOSE CALLS.

NOW, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO IN CUSTOMER SERVICE.

SUCH AN IMPORTANT -- EVERY DEPARTMENT, WHAT YOU ALL DO IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, BUT IT IS -- IT'S WONDERFUL TO KNOW THAT WHEN SOMEONE CALLS OR HAS A QUESTION, PATRICK'S THERE TO FIELD IT AND ALWAYS HAS A SMILE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

WHY DON'T YOU COME FORWARD.

WE'LL GET A PICTURE.

>>RUSLANA PANOV: PLEASE STAND BY.

>>MARK SHARPE: PICKLE BALL.

>>RUSLANA PANOV: ONE MORE TIME.

[APPLAUSE]

>>RUSSELL ELEFTERION: REAL QUICK -- REAL QUICK.

I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THE SUCCESS OF THE SENIORS AND THEIR ENTHUSIASM FOR THE PROGRAMS, SO I HAPPENED TO BRING SOME OF OUR PICKLE BALL PLAYERS.

IF YOU DON'T MIND, PICKLE BALL ROCKS BACK THERE, AND THEY HAVE A LITTLE GIFT FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS --

[APPLAUSE]

-- AND MIKE MERRILL AS WELL, SO, GUYS, COME ON UP.

>>MARK SHARPE: COME ON.

FANTASTIC.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: MR. CHAIRMAN.

>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER MILLER.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: I JUST TURNED 63 LAST MONTH.

CAN I PLAY?

>>RUSSELL ELEFTERION: ABSOLUTELY.

WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: ALL RIGHT.

TELL ME WHERE IT IS.

I'M COMING OUT THERE [INAUDIBLE] BAD BACK.

>>RUSSELL ELEFTERION: JUST REAL QUICKLY, THE PROGRAMS ARE AT GARDENVILLE, AT ALL PEOPLES LIFE CENTER, WESTCHASE, AND AT NORTHDALE RECREATION CENTERS.

WE HAVE 280 PICKLE BALL PLAYERS, AND IT'S THE

FASTEST-GROWING SPORT, ALTHOUGH I LOVE CRICKET TOO.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: COULD YOU SEND ME SOME INFORMATION OF WHAT TIME AND --

>>RUSSELL ELEFTERION: THANK YOU.

YES.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: -- AND E-MAIL IT TO ME?

>>RUSSELL ELEFTERION: YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: I NEED SOME EXERCISE.

>>MARK SHARPE: THAT LOOKS LIKE FUN.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: THANK YOU.

>>RUSSELL ELEFTERION: THANK YOU.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: IT'S VERY HARD.

>>MARK SHARPE: MY KIDS WOULD LIKE THIS GAME.

YEAH.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE]

>>SANDRA MURMAN: VERY DIFFICULT.

JUST LIKE IN TENNIS.

IN TENNIS, THE BALL COMES TO YOU.

YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE BALL, AND YOU SEE IT'S GOT --

>>MARK SHARPE: THE NEXT PRESENTATION IS GOING TO BE MADE BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER.

THIS IS FOR THE GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP UNIVERSITY GRADUATION.

COMMISSIONER BECKNER.

>>KEVIN BECKNER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I'M GOING TO COME DOWN FRONT FOR THIS, AND IF -- WANDA SLOAN, IF YOU COULD COME UP AND JOIN ME AT THE PODIUM.

BOARD MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, ONE OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' GOALS IS TO SHARE INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, PROGRAMS, AND PERSONNEL WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WHILE WE BELIEVE IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT CITIZENS KNOW AND UNDERSTAND COUNTY OPERATIONS, KNOW HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE COUNTY, AND ARE AWARE OF VARIOUS COUNTY PROGRAMS, WE FEEL THAT THIS IS VITAL FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERYTHING THAT GOVERNMENT HAS TO OFFER.

AND THIS PROGRAM, THE GLU PROGRAM, IS ACTUALLY ORGANIZED AND EXECUTED BY OUR OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD RELATIONS.

THEY'VE DEVELOPED AND DESIGNED THE ENTIRE PROGRAM, AND THIS REALLY HAS BECOME INSTRUMENTAL IN BUILDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND ITS PEOPLES.

A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND OF THE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS.

THEY COME FROM A CROSS-SECTION OF AGE, GENDER, AND ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS, AND THEY REPRESENT THE BUSINESS AND WORKING AND RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

THE 2014 GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP UNIVERSITY, OR GLU, IS OUR 10th GRADUATING CLASS, AND IT'S -- AND I REALLY ENCOURAGE ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE GRADUATING CLASS TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN DIFFERENT MANY FORMS OF GOVERNMENT, WHETHER IT'S RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, GETTING INVOLVED IN A BOARD.

THIS REALLY IS THE OPENING DOOR TO ALLOWING YOU TO PARTICIPATE MORE IN YOUR GOVERNMENT.

AND SO NOW THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND FOR DEVOTING YOUR TIME TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT.

AND AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE 2014 GLU GRADUATES -- I'M GOING TO CALL YOU ONE BY ONE -- TO JOIN ME AT THE PODIUM.

IT WOULD NOT BE GRADUATION WITHOUT MUSIC, OF COURSE.

KIZUWANDA AGEE -- AGEE.

SYLVIA BORDEN.

VAN RAY CHANDLER, II.

KELLY FLANNERY.

DAVID SHAW.

AND BETTY VALENTI.

AGAIN, TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, WE CONGRATULATE YOU, AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE OUR COORDINATOR EMERITUS, WANDA SLOAN, UP TO THE PODIUM TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT HER PROGRAM.

[APPLAUSE]

>>WANDA SLOAN: I DIDN'T KNOW I'D HAVE TO SPEAK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR -- FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS AND FOR ENCOURAGING GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP UNIVERSITY, BUT I COULD NOT DO

THIS -- I COULD NOT PUT THIS ON WITHOUT THE PARTICIPATION OF ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT COME TOGETHER, COORDINATE WITH ME, AND ACTUALLY TAKE THEM AND SHOW THEM HAND-BY-HAND WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COUNTY, AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

WE WENT YESTERDAY TO THE CENTER, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS FUNNY THAT PATRICK WAS UP HERE, AND IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF THEM TO GO TO THE CENTER, BUT WE WENT TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP THAT THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS GIVE US BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, I COULDN'T DO IT.

[APPLAUSE]

>>KEVIN BECKNER: AND WANDA, WE WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT AS THE BOARD, WE PUT A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY ON A ONE-PERSON DEPARTMENT THAT RELIES MANY -- ON MANY VOLUNTEERS TO MAKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD RELATIONS DEPARTMENT A SUCCESS, AND YOU DO SUCH A PHENOMENAL JOB, AND WE ARE SO PROUD TO HAVE YOU PART OF OUR ORGANIZATION, AND WE JUST THANK YOU.

AND, AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, WE THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR, AGAIN, GETTING INVOLVED IN YOUR GOVERNMENT.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>>KEVIN BECKNER: YES.

AND EACH OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

>> I JUST -- MY NAME IS VAN CHANDLER, AND I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR PUTTING THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER.

IT HAS BEEN A REAL EYE-OPENER FOR MYSELF PERSONALLY AS A PROPERTY MANAGER, AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT, AND I REALLY HAVE TO TIP MY HAT TO THE COMMISSIONERS, ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND ALL THE FINE EMPLOYEES OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

YOU ALL MAKE ME VERY PROUD.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]

>>WANDA SLOAN: DAVID?

ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING?

>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER HAGAN.

>>KEN HAGAN: NO, I JUST WANT TO ECHO COMMISSIONER BECKNER'S COMMENTS, AND AS THE LONGEST-SERVING COMMISSIONER HERE, IN FACT, THE COMMISSIONER WHO CREATED THIS GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP UNIVERSITY, I WANT TO THANK WANDA FOR HER LEADERSHIP, NOT ONLY WITH THIS PROGRAM BUT WITH EVERYTHING SHE DOES WITH NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES ON A DAILY BASIS,

THE -- YOU KNOW, THE OUTSTANDING CONFERENCE THAT YOU PUT ON EVERY YEAR, AND I KNOW SO MANY NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTY ARE SO GRATEFUL, AS WE ARE, TO HAVE YOU AT THE HELM, AND SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, AND FOR THE GRADUATES, JUST WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST AND PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROGRAM AND LEARNING HOW HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WORKS, AND I SO OFTEN SAY AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONFERENCE THAT YOU GUYS ARE THE EXPERTS, WE'RE NOT THE EXPERTS BUT YOU GUYS ARE, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO IN YOUR COMMUNITIES TO MAKE THIS SUCH AN OUTSTANDING COUNTY.

THANK YOU.

>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER MURMAN.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

I ECHO THE COMMENTS.

WANDA, YOU DO A SUPERB JOB OF CONNECTING OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT'S AWESOME.

AND PARTICULARLY KELLY FLANNERY, WHO I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW.

SHE IS THE -- RECENTLY BEEN APPOINTED AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO FOR THE SOUTH TAMPA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND THAT IS GROWING AND EXPANDING VERY QUICKLY, SO I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

THANK YOU FOR, AGAIN, YOUR INTEREST IN OUR COUNTY.

>>MARK SHARPE: IF YOU'D PLEASE COME FORWARD, WE'LL TAKE A PHOTO.

>>RUSLANA PANOV: OKAY.

STAND BY.

ONE MORE TIME.

ONE MORE TIME.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]

>>MARK SHARPE: AND OUR NEXT PRESENTER IS GOING TO BE COMMISSIONER CRIST.

>>VICTOR CRIST: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

I HAVE THE DISTINCT PLEASURE OF SPEAKING AND PRESENTING TO THIS NEXT RECIPIENT.

WILL THE EXTENSION SERVICES DIRECTOR, STEPHEN GRAN, COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM.

STEPHEN, FEEL FREE TO ADJUST THAT TO YOUR HEIGHT, MAN.

THAT WAY THE MICROPHONE WILL PICK YOU UP.

THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICES PROGRAM IS AN EDUCATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM THAT HAS PROVIDED

RESEARCH-BASED INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH WORKSHOPS, PUBLICATIONS, THE MASS MEDIA, AND INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION.

THIS YEAR MARKS THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY, THE 100th ANNIVERSARY -- MY LORD, 100 YEARS -- OF THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICES PROGRAMS ESTABLISHED MAY 8th, 1914, BY THE SMITH-LEVIN ACT -- LEVER ACT.

THAT'S A WASHINGTON ACT UP IN CONGRESS.

I'M GOING TO PRESENT YOU THIS PROCLAMATION, BUT BEFORE DOING SO, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ IT.

I'M GOING TO DO IT UP HERE BECAUSE FOR ME THE LIGHTING'S BETTER HERE THAN DOWN THERE.

WHEREAS, MAY 8th, 2014, MARKS THE CENTENNIAL OF THE SIGNING OF THE SMITH-LEVER ACT, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED -- AND ESTABLISHED THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM, KNOWN TODAY IN FLORIDA AS THE UF/IFAS EXTENSION PROGRAM AND THE FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY EXTENSION PROGRAM.

THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OPENING THROUGH LAND GRANT UNIVERSITIES AS PARTNERS THROUGH THE FEDERAL SYSTEM APPLIES THESE GRANTS; WHEREAS, THE U.S. SENATE -- SENATOR HOKE SMITH AND GEORGIA U.S. REPRESENTATIVE A.F. LEVER OF SOUTH CAROLINA AUTHORIZED THE SMITH-LEVER ACT AND SPONSORED THE SMITH-LEVER ACT TO EXPAND THE VOCATIONAL, AGRICULTURAL, AND HOME SERVICES PROGRAM IN RURAL AMERICA BY BRINGING THE RESEARCH-BASED KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAND -- TO THE LAND GRANT UNIVERSITIES AND TO THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SERVE; WHEREAS, THE FLORIDA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICES PROGRAM, ADMINISTERED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY, HAVE HELPED MILLIONS OF FLORIDIANS OVER THE CENTURY AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, DISCOVERIES IN PARTICULAR -- AND PARTICULAR KNOWLEDGE IN AREAS OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD AND HOME SERVICES; WHEREAS, COOPERATIVE EXTENSION RESEARCH-BASED EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES AND RESEARCHERS HAVE HELPED ESTABLISH THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND, FRANKLY, THE UNITED STATES AS A LEADING AGRICULTURAL-PRODUCING STATE AND NATION IN THE WORLD; WHEREAS, COOPERATIVE EXTENSION ENGAGES IN RURAL AND URBAN LEARNINGS THROUGH PARTICULARLY

SCIENCE-BASED, RESEARCH-BASED DEVELOPED PROGRAMS, ON-LINE APPROACHES, RESULTING IN ACQUISITION OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, MOTIVATION, STRENGTHENING THE PROFITABILITY OF ANIMAL AND PLANET PRODUCTION SYSTEMS, PROTECTING NATURAL RESOURCES, HELPING PEOPLE MAKE HEALTHFUL LIFESTYLE DECISIONS, ENSURING SAFE AND ABUNDANT FOOD SUPPLIES, ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY VITALITY, AND GROWTH TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS.

WHEW, THAT'S A LONG SENTENCE.

LET ME TAKE A BREATH.

WHEREAS, THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND MANY STATES ARE CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE SIGNING OF THE

SMITH-LEVER ACT WITH RESOLUTIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS, AND MANY LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS ALSO ARE COMMUNICATING THROUGH HISTORIC LEGISLATION.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE BOARD OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DO HEREBY SET ASIDE MAY 2014 AS THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

FURTHERMORE, WE ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR LOCAL EXTENSION OFFICE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF AGRICULTURAL, HUMAN, AND NATURAL RESOURCES, AND REAL-LIFE ISSUES AFFECTING THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING MAKE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY A SAFER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.

YOU KNOW, BEFORE COMING DOWN, I WANT TO FROM A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE -- MY FIRST, I WOULD SAY, INVOLVEMENT WITH COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AND 4-H, COMBINED TOGETHER, WAS ABOUT -- ABOUT 18 YEARS AGO, AND IT WAS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY WEED AND SEED INITIATIVE, WHICH WAS A FEDERAL GRANT AWARDED TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY -- WE WERE ONE OF 14 RECIPIENTS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THEY GAVE OUT THAT HIGHLY COVETED, VERY DIFFICULT-TO-ACHIEVE DESIGNATION, AND WHAT CAME WITH IT WAS SOME MONEY TO SEED THE COMMUNITY WITH PROGRAMS FOR REVITALIZATION AND STABILIZATION.

ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE DID IN THE UNIVERSITY AREA WAS A COMMUNITY GARDEN.

WE TOOK TWO ACRES OF LAND THAT THE COUNTY HAD PURCHASED AND CULTIVATED IT INTO A COMMUNITY GARDEN.

WE WERE GROWING SOME OUTSTANDING CROPS, AND WITH THE HELP OF IFAS, WE FOUND THAT OUR TOMATOES AND OUR WATERMELON AND OUR BEANS AND ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT THINGS WE WERE GROWING, CORN, WERE EXCEPTIONAL.

THE SOIL WAS RICH, THE CHEMICAL -- THE VITAMINS WE WERE USING WERE RICH.

WELL, I LED A TOUR THROUGH THERE ONE DAY WHEN I WAS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE BECAUSE WE WERE SO PROUD OF WHAT WE WERE DOING, AND I REMEMBER ONE OF THE RESEARCHERS THAT WAS ON THE TOUR LEANING OVER AND WHISPERING IN MY EAR, REPRESENTATIVE, DO YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S CANNIBUS GROWING IN THERE?

AND I SAID, WHAT'S CANNIBUS?

AND HE SAID, MARIJUANA.

[LAUGHTER]

AND I SAID, NO, THOSE ARE TOMATO PLANTS.

HE GOES, NO, IN BETWEEN THE TOMATO PLANTS.

WHAT WE LEARNED THAT DAY IS THAT -- THAT THOSE WHO WOULD WISH TO ILLEGALLY GROW THAT ILLEGAL PRODUCT LIKED TO DO SO IN BETWEEN TOMATO PLANTS, AND, UNFORTUNATELY, OUR IFAS PROGRAM TAUGHT THEM SOME SKILLS.

[LAUGHTER]

BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THE STATE CAME IN VERY QUICKLY WITH THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND CLEANED UP OUR GARDEN.

BUT THAT WAS AN EXPERIENCE THAT I THINK I'LL NEVER FORGET, AND, YOU KNOW, THE YEARS OF ENJOYMENT WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE IN THAT GARDEN ARE ONES THAT I WILL ALWAYS CHERISH.

THANK YOU.

>>STEPHEN GRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I JUST -- COULD I SAY A FEW WORDS TOO?

>>VICTOR CRIST: YES, PLEASE.

ABSOLUTELY.

[LAUGHTER]

>>STEPHEN GRAN: THANK YOU.

WE -- WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAS PROVIDED TO THE EXTENSION SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

IN FACT, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAD AN EXTENSION SERVICE BEFORE THERE WAS AN EXTENSION SERVICE.

WE TRACED BACK THE -- THE ORIGINS OF THE COUNTY'S EXTENSION SERVICE TO PRIOR TO THE SMITH-LEVER ACT IN 1914.

THERE WAS -- THE COUNTY'S FIRST AGRICULTURE AGENT, HIS NAME WAS JACK PETERS, WAS ONBOARD WITH THE COUNTY IN THE EARLY 19 -- 1910, APPROXIMATELY, AND HIS JOB WAS TO GO OUT AND CALL ON FARMERS AND TO EVALUATE THEIR PRODUCTION SYSTEM AND HELP THEM ADMINISTER A MORE EFFICIENT PRODUCTION SYSTEM SO THEY COULD BECOME MORE ECONOMICALLY VIABLE, MUCH THE SAME WAY AS WE DO BUSINESS TODAY.

HE SERVED UNTIL SHORTLY AFTER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FLORIDA EXTENSION SERVICE IN 1914, AND, IN FACT, I AM ONLY THE 10th-SERVING COUNTY EXTENSION DIRECTOR IN THE 100-YEAR HISTORY OF THE EXTENSION SERVICE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

WHILE ORIGINALLY MUCH OF THE FOCUS ON OUR PROGRAMS WERE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ISSUES, EXTENSION PROGRAMMING HAS EVOLVED AS THE COMMUNITY NEEDS HAVE CHANGED.

TODAY OUR PROGRAMS FOCUS ON 4-H AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, AS COMMISSIONER CRIST MENTIONED.

OF COURSE, OUR AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION PROGRAMMING HAS BEEN OUR BREAD AND BUTTER THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

OUR FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE PROGRAMS OFFER EDUCATION IN FAMILY LIFE, PARENTING, FOOD AND NUTRITION, AND FOOD AND -- AND PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.

OUR URBAN HORTICULTURE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON FLORIDA-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING TO HAVE A LESS -- LESS IMPACT ON OUR -- FLORIDA'S NATURAL RESOURCES.

OUR FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCE PROGRAMS PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY NEEDED TO SUSTAIN OUR URBAN FORESTS AND OUR WOODLANDS.

AND OUR PROFESSIONAL HORTICULTURE SERVICE PROGRAMS PROVIDE TRAINING TO COMMERCIAL COMPANIES, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN THE AREA OF HORTICULTURE.

AS WE CELEBRATE THE 100th-YEAR MILESTONE, WE LOOK TO THE ISSUES THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO ADDRESS IN THE COMING 100 YEARS.

IN FACT, WE WILL BE HOLDING AN OPEN HOUSE LATER THIS YEAR, ON OCTOBER 9th, TO FURTHER RECOGNIZE THIS -- THIS SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY EXTENSION.

I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

>>VICTOR CRIST: PLEASE COME FORWARD FOR A PHOTO.

[APPLAUSE]

>>RUSLANA PANOV: OKAY.

STAND BY.

ONE MORE TIME.

THANK YOU.

>>MARK SHARPE: STEPHEN, I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, THOUGH -- I KNOW -- NOT ABOUT CANNIBUS, BUT --

[LAUGHTER]

-- A COUSIN IS HOPS, WHICH ARE VERY POPULAR, AND THERE IS A HUGE DEMAND FOR HOPS, AND THEY LIKE TO GROW IT IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO GROW HOPS IN FLORIDA?

>>STEPHEN GRAN: I HAVE HEARD THAT IT MAY BE POSSIBLE, AND I KNOW THAT PARTIALLY RELATES TO THE CRAFT BEER.

>>MARK SHARPE: JUST A LITTLE.

>>STEPHEN GRAN: JUST A LITTLE.

>>AL HIGGINBOTHAM: IT'S NOT A VIABLE PRODUCT.

I MEAN, I INTERRUPTED YOU.

>>STEPHEN GRAN: NO, IN TERMS OF BEING COMMERCIALLY VIABLE, PROBABLY NOT.

>>MARK SHARPE: IS IT THE CLIMATE?

>>STEPHEN GRAN: THE COST OF PRODUCTION HERE WOULD PROBABLY OUTWEIGH THE POTENTIAL OF JUST BRINGING IT IN FROM OTHER SOURCES, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF THERE WAS A DEMAND FOR LOCALLY PRODUCED HOPS, I WOULD IMAGINE IT MAY BE POSSIBLE.

>>MARK SHARPE: WELL, AS THE NUMBER OF BREWERIES GROW -- AND WE'VE GOT 32 AND GROWING -- I COULD IMAGINE THE DEMAND MIGHT BE HIGH.

I KNOW THEY'RE BRINGING IT ALL IN FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.

THERE'S A SHORTAGE.

WE'RE TALKING -- I MET WITH SOME PRODUCERS YESTERDAY, AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT SHORTAGES, BUT --

>>STEPHEN GRAN: THE CLIMATE IS SIGNIFICANTLY --

>>MARK SHARPE: THE CLIMATE.

>>STEPHEN GRAN: -- DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND HERE.

>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER CRIST.

>>VICTOR CRIST: MR. CHAIRMAN, I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, ONE AREA YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE A GOOD USE OF YOUR TRAINS TO BRING THAT HOPS INTO THE STATE.

[LAUGHTER]

>>MARK SHARPE: I'D LOVE TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU.

NO MORE COMMENTS?

THANK YOU, STEPHEN.

OUR NEXT PRESENTATION IS GOING TO BE MADE BY COMMISSIONER MILLER, AND THIS IS FOR THE ARMWOOD HIGH SCHOOL LADY HAWK BASKETBALL TEAM.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

IT IS ALWAYS AN HONOR TO RECOGNIZE ATHLETES, ESPECIALLY -- SPECIFICALLY OUR YOUNG ATHLETES, BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS HEARD COMMISSIONER HAGAN TALK ABOUT HOW SPORTS MOLDS THE MIND OF OUR ATHLETES, YOUNG PEOPLE, THROUGH SPORTS, BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS ORGANIZED, THERE'S TRAINING, THERE'S DISCIPLINE AND THE WHOLE WORKS, SO TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE LADY HAWKS BASKETBALL TEAM.

AND I DON'T KNOW -- ARE YOU PATRICK KELLY?

>> YES.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: OKAY.

PATRICK KELLY IS THE COACH OF THE ARMWOOD LADIES HAWKS BASKETBALL TEAM.

DID ELIJAH THOMAS SHOW WITH YOU?

>> NO, HE WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT.

OKAY.

THIS IS A CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION AWARDED TO THE ARMWOOD HIGH SCHOOL LADY HAWKS BASKETBALL TEAM.

THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPLAUDS THE ARMWOOD HIGH SCHOOL LADY HAWKS BASKETBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS AND PLACING SECOND IN THE 6A REGIONAL FINALS.

THE HAWKS' SUCCESS IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF HOW HOMEWORK, DISCIPLINE, AND COURAGE ARE LINKED TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE GREATNESS.

A DEFINING ASPECT OF THE TEAM'S SUCCESS IS THEIR CONSTANT PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE.

AS A RESULT, THEY ACHIEVED AN OVERALL RECORD THIS YEAR OF WIN -- 26 WINS AND FIVE LOSSES AND CURRENTLY HOLD THE SECOND BEST RECORD IN ARMWOOD SCHOOL HISTORY.

WE COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR VICTORIES AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO HELP MAKE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.

WE ARE PROUD TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND CONGRATULATE THE ARMWOOD HIGH SCHOOL LADY HAWKS FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE ARMWOOD HAWKS FOOTBALL, BUT LET'S PUT THE LADY HAWKS RIGHT UP THERE WITH THEM.

SO CONGRATULATIONS, SIR.

YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS?

>> YES, PLEASE.

ON BEHALF OF ALL THE PLAYERS WHO WISH THEY COULD BE HERE, BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'RE TAKING END-OF-YEAR EXAMS -- AND WE PREACH ACADEMICS FIRST, SO -- AND ON BEHALF OF MY ENTIRE COACHING STAFF; ON BEHALF OF OUR PRINCIPAL, DR. CASTELLI; OUR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, ELIJAH THOMAS, WE SINCERELY THANK THE ENTIRE BOARD, COMMISSIONER MILLER, FOR THIS GREAT ACHIEVEMENT AND AWARD.

THANK YOU.

>>LES MILLER, JR.: IT'S MY PLEASURE TO COME DOWN AND PRESENT THIS TO YOU.

[APPLAUSE]

>>RUSLANA PANOV: STAND BY.

ONE MORE TIME.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>MARK SHARPE: AND OUR NEXT PRESENTATION, COMMENDING SPORTSMANSHIP AND COMMUNITY SERVICE, WILL BE MADE BY COMMISSIONER HAGAN.

>>KEN HAGAN: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

IT'S MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE THESE NEXT TWO YOUNG LADIES.

WILL CHELSEA OGLEVIE AND LEAH PEMBERTON PLEASE COME FORWARD.

WELCOME.

OVER THE LAST, WELL, NUMBER OF YEARS, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAS RECOGNIZED NUMEROUS TEAMS AND INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUT TODAY IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER, AND IN A MOMENT, YOU'LL SEE WHY.

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I SAW A NEWS STORY ABOUT TWO FLORIDA SOUTHERN SOFTBALL PLAYERS WHO HELPED AN OPPOSING PLAYER REACH HOME PLATE AFTER HITTING A HOME RUN AND BECOMING INJURED AND, THEREFORE, UNABLE TO RUN THE BASES, AND AS A RESULT, FLORIDA SOUTHERN LOST THE GAME.

CANDIDLY, AT THE TIME, IT DID NOT OCCUR TO ME THE MAGNITUDE OF THEIR ACTION AND THAT THE TWO GIRLS LIVE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

SHORTLY AFTER, I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL FROM COACH AL BOWMAN, WHO HAS BEEN A SOFTBALL COACH FOR MANY YEARS, WHO I MET YEARS AGO WHEN THE COUNTY COMMISSION RECOGNIZED TWO OUTSTANDING SOFTBALL TEAMS FROM CITRUS PARK LITTLE LEAGUE.

IN 2005, THE SENIOR-LEVEL WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS WERE FROM CITRUS PARK, AND THEN IN 2008 THE BIG LEAGUE STATE REGIONAL CHAMPS, WHO ALSO WENT TO THE WORLD SERIES THAT YEAR, WERE FROM CITRUS PARK.

WELL, AL WAS AT THE GAME THAT DAY, AND HE EXPLAINED THE INCREDIBLE EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE THAT IT WAS AND THAT ONE OF THE GIRLS, CHELSEA, WAS ON THE CITRUS PARK 2008 TEAM.

I THINK HE SAID IT BEST IN HIS WORDS, SO I'M GOING TO READ THIS LITTLE BIT OF AN E-MAIL HE SENT.

HE SAID, THESE ARE HOMETOWN GIRLS WHO MADE US ALL PROUD.

AS HER LONGTIME COACH, THE FAMILY ASKED ME TO ATTEND HER SENIOR NIGHT FESTIVITIES GAME SATURDAY, SO I WITNESSED WHAT TRANSPIRED.

MANY PEOPLE APPEARED TO BE IN AWE OF THEIR ACTIONS.

I DON'T KNOW LEAH, BUT I HAVE SPENT PLENTY OF LONG WEEKENDS AND COUNTLESS HOURS WITH CHELSEA AND HER FAMILY, SO I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I WAS NOT SURPRISED BY THIS YOUNG LADY'S ACTIONS.

SHE'S A FIRST-CLASS HUMAN BEING WHO'S ALWAYS CARED HEAVILY ABOUT HER TEAMMATES AND PEOPLE AROUND HER.

MY WIFE WORKED AT SICKLES HIGH SCHOOL WHILE CHELSEA AND MY DAUGHTER ATTENDED TOGETHER AND CAME HOME WITH SEVERAL STORIES OF CHELSEA GOING OUT OF HER WAY TO SHOW ATTENTION AND CARE TO SOME OF THE SICKLES' STUDENTS THAT HAD VARIOUS TYPES OF DISABILITIES WHEN MANY STUDENTS IGNORED THEM.

CHELSEA IS, JUST PLAIN AND SIMPLY, AN AWESOME HUMAN BEING AND IDEAL ROLE MODEL FOR YOUNG ATHLETES, PARTICULARLY WITH ALL THE NEGATIVE PUBLICITY AND QUESTIONABLE ACTIONS IN ATHLETICS CURRENTLY.

IT GOES ON TO SAY, I HONESTLY BELIEVE THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE DRY EYE IN THE STANDS SATURDAY AS ALL THIS UNFOLDED, INCLUDING MYSELF.

IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER THAT LAST INNING FOR HER SUPPORTERS, AND I'M FAIRLY SURE FOR HER ALSO, BUT TO SEE HOW SHE RESPONDED, REMINDING US ALL THAT WINNING OR LOSING A SOFTBALL GAME IS NOT NEARLY AS MUCH OF A PRIORITY AS WE MAKE IT SOMETIMES, WAS THE MOST HEARTWARMING SOFTBALL EXPERIENCE IN MY 18 YEARS OF COACHING GIRLS FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL.

WITH THAT, I WANT TO SHOW THE NEWS CLIP SO WE CAN ALL TRULY UNDERSTAND THE DEPTH AND MAGNITUDE OF THESE GIRLS' SELFLESS ACTIONS THAT DAY.

[VIDEO SHOWN]

>>LINDA HURTADO: A LESSON IN GRACE AND DOING THE RIGHT THING CAUGHT ON CAMERA DURING A BAY AREA COLLEGE SOFTBALL GAME.

FACED WITH A DIFFICULT DECISION, A PITCHER FOR A LOCAL COLLEGE SOFTBALL TEAM CHOSE TO SACRIFICE WHAT WAS BEST FOR HER AND HER TEAM TO DO WHAT HER HEART WAS TELLING HER TO DO, AND TONIGHT, EVEN THOUGH THE FINAL SCORE OF THAT GAME DID NOT GO IN HER FAVOR, SHE'S A WINNER WITH A MESSAGE WE ALL SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO.

>>CHELSEA OGLEVIE: I LIKE TO CLEAN UP THE MOUND, AND I'M GOING TO MISS IT.

>>LINDA HURTADO: FLORIDA SOUTHERN SENIOR PITCHER CHELSEA OGLEVIE TOOK TO THE MOUND TODAY TO RELIVE THE VERY LAST PITCH OF HER VERY LONG SOFTBALL CAREER.

IT WAS SATURDAY AGAINST ECKERD COLLEGE.

COMPETITOR KARA OBERER, INJURED EARLIER IN THE GAME, STEPS UP TO THE PLATE.

>>CHELSEA OGLEVIE: MY EMOTIONS ARE RUNNING HIGH, I HAVE TWO OUTS, TWO STRIKES, AND MY HOPEFULLY LAST INNING, YOU KNOW, TO GET THE WIN.

I THROW A RISE BALL OUT.

SHE TOOK IT PROBABLY ABOUT 240 FEET.

>>LINDA HURTADO: KARA HIT A THREE-RUN HOMER AND HOBBLED TOWARD FIRST BASE.

>>KARA OBERER: MY KNEE IS SO LOCKED UP, AND EVERY TIME I TRY TO MOVE IT, THAT'S WHEN, LIKE, THE TERRIBLE PAIN COMES.

>>CHELSEA OGLEVIE: IT WASN'T UNTIL SHE GOT TO RIGHT ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF FIRST AND SECOND BASE THAT I REALIZED SHE WASN'T OKAY AND SHE WAS SOBBING.

>>KARA OBERER: AS SOON AS I REACHED FIRST, I KNEW I COULDN'T GO ANYWHERE ELSE MYSELF.

>>CHELSEA OGLEVIE: LEAH AND I BOTH MET HER RIGHT OVER THERE AND TOOK HER AROUND THE BASES.

(APPLAUSE)

>>LINDA HURTADO: AND THEY ACTUALLY DIDN'T HAVE TO.

YOU SEE, IRONICALLY, SIX YEARS AGO TO THE DATE, A SIMILAR SCENE UNFOLDED DURING ANOTHER COLLEGE SOFTBALL GAME, LEADING TO RULE CHANGES THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN ECKERD THE WIN ANYWAY, BUT THE FLORIDA SOUTHERN GIRLS DIDN'T KNOW THAT AT THE TIME.

>>CHELSEA OGLEVIE: THEY COULD PUT IN A PINCH RUNNER TO WHERE SHE COULD FINISH, BUT WE HAD GOTTEN TO HER SO QUICK THAT THE COACHES DIDN'T NEED TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

>>LINDA HURTADO: KARA'S HIT SEALED ECKERD'S FIRST WINNING SEASON EVER.

>>KARA OBERER: IT'S A VERY SPECIAL MOMENT FOR OUR TEAM.

>>LINDA HURTADO: AND WHILE THE FINAL SCORE WILL ALWAYS READ 4-2 IN ECKERD'S FAVOR, IT'S REALLY INTEGRITY THAT WINS.

>>CHELSEA OGLEVIE: ANY PERSON THAT RESPECTS AND HONORS THE GAME SHOULD REACH OUT THE SAME HAND AND DO WHAT WE DID.

>>LINDA HURTADO: WELL, THE DECISION THOSE GIRLS MADE ON THE FIELD SATURDAY IS SURELY A REFLECTION OF GOOD COACHING

AND --

[VIDEO STOPPED]

[APPLAUSE]

>>KEN HAGAN: WELL, WITH US TODAY ARE CHELSEA OGLEVIE, WHO PLAYED, I BELIEVE, TEN YEARS AT CITRUS PARK LITTLE LEAGUE, SICKLES HIGH SCHOOL, WAS A SENIOR PITCHER AT FLORIDA SOUTHERN -- AS A FORMER BASEBALL PLAYER, I'M GLAD THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO FACE A RISE BALL LIKE YOU DO IN SOFTBALL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT -- AS WELL AS HER PARENTS, BRUCE AND JANE OGLEVIE, AND COACH AL BOWMAN, AND WE ALSO HAVE LEAH PEMBERTON, WHO PLAYED AT BLOOMINGDALE LITTLE LEAGUE, BLOOMINGDALE HIGH SCHOOL, AND IS A SOPHOMORE, SECOND BASE, FOR FLORIDA SOUTHERN, AND SANDRA AND JEFF OGLESVIE ARE HERE AS WELL.

I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TWO TO SAY A FEW WORDS, BUT FIRST I WANT TO FIRST READ THE CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION, WHICH STATES, THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COMMENDS YOU FOR YOUR SPORTSMANSHIP AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ON AND OFF THE SOFTBALL FIELD.

AS A TRUE LEADER IN THE SOFTBALL COMMUNITY, YOUR PASSION AND DEDICATION TO HELP OTHERS IS INSPIRING AND HAS BENEFITED MANY PEOPLE.

THIS PAST SEASON, YOU ASSISTED AN INJURED PLAYER ON A COMPETING TEAM, WHO HIT A HOME RUN, AROUND THE BASES, ENSURING SHE TOUCHED EVERY BASE TO PUT HER TEAM IN THE LEAD.

YOU DESCRIBED YOUR ACTIONS AS A NATURAL INSTINCT TO HELP SOMEONE IN NEED AND THAT YOUR FELLOW ATHLETE DESERVED THE HOME RUN.

EVEN THOUGH YOUR SELFLESS ACT COST YOUR TEAM THE GAME, YOUR ACTIONS WILL BE REMEMBERED BY MANY AS A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE, DEMONSTRATING WHETHER WE WIN OR LOSE, IT IS ALL ABOUT HOW WE PLAY THE GAME.

WE RECOGNIZE YOU FOR SHOWING CLASS AND COMPASSION OVER COMPETITIVENESS.

WE'RE PROUD TO CALL YOU A RESIDENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND JOIN MANY OTHERS IN EXTENDING OUR DEEP APPRECIATION FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND YOUR COMPASSION.

THANKS FOR MAKING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.

AWARDED THIS 14th DAY OF MAY, 2014, SIGNED BY ALL SEVEN OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

BEFORE I COME DOWN, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TWO IF YOU'D, YOU KNOW, PLEASE SHARE A FEW WORDS WITH US.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE ME CRY.

[LAUGHTER]

WELL, THANK ALL OF YOU FOR RECOGNIZING US.

YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID, IN THE MOMENT, IT JUST SEEMED LIKE THE NATURAL THING TO DO.

AND AFTER THE GAME, WE STILL DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL, YOU KNOW, IT BLEW UP WITH ALL THE MEDIA AND EVERYTHING.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY PARENTS AND MY COACH, AL BOWMAN, AS WELL AS THESE AMAZING TEAMMATES THAT I'VE HAD OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS TO SHAPE ME INTO THE PERSON THAT I AM TODAY, AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU GUYS REACHED OUT TO US AND ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AMAZING THING THAT HAPPENED FOR MY LAST PITCH OF MY CAREER, SO THANK YOU.

>> I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU.

ALSO, THANK YOU TO MY PARENTS AND MY COACHES.

YOU DON'T SEE THIS VERY OFTEN, SOFTBALL GETTING RECOGNIZED, AND I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS REALLY NICE OF YOU GUYS TO DO THIS FOR US, SO THANK YOU.

>>KEN HAGAN: AND --

[APPLAUSE]

-- I JUST WANT THE BOARD MEMBERS TO KNOW, THIS, AGAIN, WASN'T JUST A LOCAL STORY, THIS WAS --

>>MARK SHARPE: NATIONAL.

>>KEN HAGAN: -- NATIONAL NEWS, I MEAN, ESPN, FOX SPORTS, AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'VE PLAYED AND COACHED A LOT OF BASEBALL THROUGH THE YEARS, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH AND EXAMPLE OF SPORTSMANSHIP, SELFLESSNESS, COMPASSION, AND REALLY SHOWING CLASS OVER COMPETITIVENESS, AND YOU'RE TRULY ROLE MODELS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AT ALL LEVELS, FROM LITTLE LEAGUE THROUGH THE -- THE PROFESSIONAL RANKS, AND FOR ME, THIS REALLY HIT HOME WITH ME BECAUSE I HAVE A 7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WHO PLAYS FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL AT CITRUS PARK LITTLE LEAGUE, SO I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT SHE WOULD TURN OUT TO BE A YOUNG WOMAN LIKE THE TWO OF YOU, SO CONGRATULATIONS.

>>MARK SHARPE: COMMISSIONER HAGAN, I WANT TO SAY TO YOU, YOU'VE -- EVERY -- SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT -- I WAS EXPECTING YOU TO SAY THIS TIME LIFE'S GREATEST LESSONS BEING LEARNED ON THE FIELD, IT'S SOMETHING I'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER EACH TIME YOU MAKE THESE PRESENTATIONS, AND NOW I KNOW WHAT IT REALLY MEANS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I WATCHED THAT NEWS CLIP.

I HAD NO IDEA WHERE YOU TWO LADIES WERE FROM.

I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMEWHERE IN ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTRY, BUT I WAS JUST CAPTURED BY IT AND THOUGHT, WOW, I'D LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET YOU, AND I JUST -- I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE UNTIL TODAY THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE WALKING IN HERE, SO TO YOUR PARENTS AND TO YOU, THAT'S JUST AMAZING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>RUSLANA PANOV: STAND BY.

ONE MORE TIME.

THANK YOU.

>>MARK SHARPE: THE NEXT PRESENTATION -- COMMENDATION WILL BE MADE BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN, AND THIS IS IN REGARDS TO OUR WONDERFUL SUNSHINE LINE.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: ABSOLUTELY.

COULDN'T WAIT FOR THIS ONE.

AND CARL HARNESS, IF YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD WITH YOUR STAFF.

AND THIS -- I'M GOING TO LET YOU INTRODUCE BEATRICE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU ALL KNOW HER VERY WELL BECAUSE YOU WORK WITH HER EVERY DAY, BUT THIS IS A COMMENDATION FOR SOME EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF ONE OF OUR SUNSHINE LINE DRIVERS TO REALLY PUT HER LIFE IN DANGER TO SAVE A STRANDED DRIVER WHO WAS CAUGHT IN FLOODED WATERS.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THAT A LOT ON TV AND -- DURING OUR FLOODING THIS SPRING, SO I AM SO PROUD TO INTRODUCE BEATRICE PINDER TO YOU TODAY, AND CARL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE I READ THE COMMENDATION ABOUT BEATRICE AND HOW GREAT THE SUNSHINE LINE IS?

>>CARL HARNESS: YES, MA'AM.

WE'RE JUST SO PROUD OF BEATRICE.

YOU KNOW, SHE'S -- SHE'S OUR HERO OF THE WEEK.

IT JUST EXEMPLIFIES THE -- THE DEDICATION AND THE PROFESSIONALISM THAT WE HAVE, NOT ONLY IN SUNSHINE LINE BUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY WITH ALL OF OUR STAFF, BUT BEATRICE JUST SHOWED GREAT, YOU KNOW, CARE FOR HER FELLOW CITIZEN AND NOT, YOU KNOW, CARING HER SELF-BEING OR DANGER OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS COULD HAVE BEEN FOR HERSELF BUT PUTTING HER -- YOU KNOW, PUTTING HERSELF AND HER EQUIPMENT ON THE LINE TO SAVE SOMEONE ELSE, AND WE'RE JUST SO PROUD OF HER FOR HER SELFLESS ACT, AND, YOU KNOW, I WILL ALLOW BEATRICE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: ABSOLUTELY.

LET ME GO AHEAD AND READ THE COMMENDATION FOR YOU, BEATRICE, AND THEN WE'LL ASK YOU TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS EXTENDS ITS GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR YOUR EFFORTS TO RESCUE A STRANDED DRIVER TRAPPED DURING THE FLOODING IN MAY.

YOUR ACTIONS DEMONSTRATED WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PUBLIC SERVANT BY DISPLAYING EXEMPLARY DEDICATION TO A PERSON IN NEED.

YOUR QUICK THINKING IN THE FACE OF DANGER ILLUSTRATES YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY.

WE APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS AND ARE PRIVILEGED THAT YOU ARE SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR GENUINE CONCERN FOR OTHERS AND RESPONSE TO THOSE IN NEED.

YOU ARE A COMMUNITY HERO, AND WE'RE SO PROUD AND COMFORTED TO KNOW THAT YOU REPRESENT US.

YOUR WORK HELPS TO MAKE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.

OF COURSE, IT'S SIGNED BY ALL SEVEN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

THIS STORY WAS HIGHLIGHTED ON FOX NEWS.

SHE'S A DOUBLE HERO, THOUGH.

YOU'RE A HERO EVERY DAY WHEN YOU SHOW UP AND YOU TAKE THESE PEOPLE THAT -- THAT DEPEND ON OUR SUNSHINE LINE WHO ARE DISADVANTAGED AND NEED ASSISTANCE EVERY DAY, AND THEN YOU STEPPED OUT OF THAT ROLE INTO ONE OF TRYING TO SAVE SOMEBODY'S LIFE, SO TO ME YOU'RE A DOUBLE HERO, AND I REALLY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMISSION FOR PUTTING YOURSELF -- YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE TO DO THAT.

>>BEATRICE PINDER: THANK YOU.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: SO PLEASE --

>>CARL HARNESS: AND COMMISSIONER, BEFORE BEATRICE SPEAKS, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO HER SUPERVISOR AND DIRECTOR OF THE SUNSHINE LINE, SCOTT CLARK.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: YES.

SCOTT, GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>>SCOTT CLARK: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS -- SCOTT

CLARK -- AND MR. MERRILL.

I JUST WANT TO JUST TAKE A FEW SECONDS TO THANK THIS BOARD, THANK COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, AND MR. HARNESS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS DO FOR US EACH AND EVERY DAY, FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP.

WITHOUT THAT SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP, SUNSHINE LINE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THE THINGS WE DO TO HELP THE COMMUNITY EACH AND EVERY DAY.

SOME THINGS THAT YOU DON'T HEAR, THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT WE DON'T GET A TELEPHONE CALL FROM A CITIZEN JUST THANKING US OF THE TRANSPORTATION THAT WE PROVIDE, STATING THINGS LIKE, THIS IS A LIFELINE, THANK YOU SO MUCH; I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO DO WITHOUT THE SUNSHINE LINE.

AND WE TAKE THEM TO DIALYSIS, TO CHEMOTHERAPY.

WE EVEN HAD -- ONE OF OUR CUSTOMERS CAME BY ON VALENTINE'S DAY AND BROUGHT EVERYONE CHOCOLATE HEARTS.

SHE HAD CANCER AND SHE WENT INTO REMISSION.

SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN, AND SHE JUST WANTED TO SHOW HER APPRECIATION.

AND THOSE ARE THINGS YOU -- YOU DON'T SEE BEHIND THE SCENES THAT THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THIS PROGRAM.

AND ON BEHALF OF THE EMPLOYEES AND OUR CUSTOMERS, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR STAFF FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO, THE DRIVERS AND THE CALL TAKERS, EACH AND EVERY DAY TO ALLOW OUR PROGRAM TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO THANK YOU.

WE ALSO HAVE HERE FERNANDO NUNEZ, WHICH IS BEA PINDER'S SUPERVISOR.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU.

YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?

COME ON FORWARD.

>>FERNANDO NUNEZ: YEAH.

BEA IS ONE OF OUR BETTER DRIVERS.

SHE ALWAYS -- SHE COMES TO WORK, NUMBER ONE, WHERE SOMETIMES A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T COME TO WORK.

[LAUGHTER]

WHENEVER -- WHENEVER I HAVE -- I HAVE AN ASSIGNMENT FOR HER, SHE ALWAYS SAYS YES; SHE NEVER SAYS NO.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET AN HOUR FOR LUNCH.

BEA WILL PURPOSELY PARK CLOSE TO HER NEXT ASSIGNMENT, TELL ME, LISTEN, SO-AND-SO CAME OUT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE HER HOME.

I SAY, BEA I TOLD YOU, TAKE YOUR LUNCH, THERE'S TOO MUCH PAPERWORK TO HAVE TO CORRECT FOR US, BUT SHE DOES IT ANYWAY.

BEA IS ONE OF -- I'VE GOT -- I'VE GOT TEN DRIVERS.

SHE'S PROBABLY THE BEST ONE I'VE GOT.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: GREAT EXAMPLE.

[APPLAUSE]

SO, PLEASE, BEATRICE, COME FORWARD.

>>BEATRICE PINDER: OKAY.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND -- FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO THE JOB I DO.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]

>>RUSLANA PANOV: STAND BY, PLEASE.

>>SANDRA MURMAN: CARL, GET UP HERE.

>>RUSLANA PANOV: ONE MORE TIME.

THANK YOU.

>>MARK SHARPE: THAT'S GOING TO CONCLUDE TODAY'S CEREMONIES.

WE WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR BEING HERE AND TAKING TIME TO RECEIVE THESE AWARDS BUT ALSO JUST TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR MAKING OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.

THE LAST PRESENTATION I THINK WAS REFLECTIVE OF ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTY WHO LOVE BEING HERE, WHO LOVE THEIR JOBS, WHO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND, AND WE WANT TO THANK THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WATCHING AND NOT DOWN HERE FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR COUNTY, AND WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE NEXT QUARTERLY AWARDS CEREMONY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'RE CONCLUDED.

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