By GARETT VALCOURT
The Holmes County Board of County Commissioners convened its regular meeting on January 6, welcoming newly appointed District 2 Commissioner Wade Ellenberg while taking action on a wide range of county matters, including Development Commission appointments, emergency management services, property donations, road policy, and ongoing issues related to Dogwood Lakes.
During the non-agenda public comment portion of the meeting, a Dogwood Lakes resident asked for clarification on the status of the Municipal Services Benefit Unit (MSBU) proposal previously introduced by Commissioner Clint Erickson. Commissioner Wilmer Stafford responded bluntly, signaling an end to the matter.
“Im so ready to put this to bed,” Stafford said. “It will not be forwarded by me. We didn’t have the support for the MSBU in Dogwood Lakes.”
The statement effectively closed further discussion on the proposal.
Later in the meeting, Danielle Dubin of Dubin Acquisitions LLC offered to donate a parcel of land within the Dogwood Lakes community. After discussion, the board agreed the most efficient path would be for the property to be sold on the open market, with proceeds donated to the county, in order to avoid administrative complications.
While appreciative of the offer, commissioners asked Dubin to list the property publicly with a realtor. The board agreed to revisit the donation in 120 days should the property remain unsold.
The board next addressed appointments to the Holmes County Development Commission. Commissioner Ellenberg nominated Jeremy Rolling for reappointment and District 2 resident Brady Gilmore as a new member.
Rolling received affirmative votes from Ellenberg, Wilmer Stafford, and Erickson. Commissioner Earl Stafford voted against the reappointment, and Commissioner Mitch Johnson was absent due to health issues. Gilmore’s nomination was approved unanimously by those present.
Erickson then nominated Judy Powell to serve as member-at-large, filling a vacancy left by Stephanie Cloud. Powell previously served as District 5 representative before relocating out of the district. The nomination passed unanimously.
Commissioner Wilmer Stafford requested the reappointment of Johnny Sutton to the District 1 seat, which was also unanimously approved. Commissioner Johnson requested his remaining nomination be tabled until a future meeting.
The board reviewed proposals for Emergency Management services, for which three firms submitted bids: Metric Consulting, Kent-Smith Group, and Wheeler Emergency Management Consulting. Metric Consulting received the highest score from the selection committee.
During discussion, Wilmer Stafford expressed disappointment at the lack of local firms.
“It’s a shame there are no locals..” Stafford said.
For Disaster Response services, five companies submitted proposals: D&J Enterprises, Ceres Environmental Services, Bergeron Environmental Services, Dynamic Group, and DRC. D&J was disqualified prior to scoring due to a conflict of interest, and DRC ranked highest overall.
However, Wilmer Stafford and Earl Stafford disclosed potential family connections with Metric Consulting. As a result, the board opted to table both contract awards until the next meeting.
Holmes County Sheriff John Tate raised concerns over a $2,600 building permit fee charged to Alford Construction, which is overseeing construction of a new 7,000-square-foot EMS facility.
Tate emphasized the contractor was providing services at a significantly reduced cost to benefit taxpayers and argued the fee was unreasonable. Erickson responded that similar fees had been charged during the Council on Aging expansion, noting he had opposed those charges at the time.
Tate countered that comparing a $1.6 million expansion project to a $25,000 construction oversight contract was “like comparing apples to oranges.”
Following the meeting, county officials confirmed that the county has since reimbursed Alford Construction for the permitting fees.
County Attorney Nate Nolin presented an amendment to the county stipend policy, allowing interim managers or foremen to receive an additional $2 per hour during a foreman’s absence. The adjustment takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, and was approved unanimously.
Nolin also reviewed Florida Statutes regarding commissioner voting and abstentions, stating the law generally favors participation in voting. However, he noted that Erickson’s abstention related to Dogwood Lakes did meet statutory criteria due to his property ownership.
Nolin explained that Erickson owns property bordering Dogwood Lakes and a portion of a canal connecting the lakes, creating a significant personal interest. He added that the statute’s “large class” exemption—covering situations affecting many property owners—remains open to interpretation, given the development includes more than 137 properties.
To resolve the issue definitively, Nolin requested board approval to seek a formal opinion from the Florida Commission on Ethics. The board unanimously approved the request.
Commissioner Ellenberg raised concerns about underutilized county equipment, specifically a $500,000 asphalt reclaimer.
“Its well worth it if you use for its intended use but nobody does,” Wilmer Stafford said.
Ellenberg pressed further, questioning whether its limited use justified the annual cost. The board confirmed the machine has logged only 387 hours over several years.
“What has hurt us more than anything else is we have no drivers…” said Earl Stafford.
Ellenberg suggested redirecting resources toward equipment such as tractors, mowers, and cutters if the reclaimer continues to sit idle.
The board also reviewed county and state policy regarding dirt distribution to residents. Ellenberg confirmed residents are entitled to two free loads per year from county ditch material and asked whether safeguards exist to prevent abuse.
Commissioners agreed the issue should be clarified at an upcoming road department meeting to ensure fairness and compliance.
Wilmer Stafford reported that local resident Robert Ward has offered to donate 2,050 feet of land for an easement along Smith Chapel Road in Bonifay, contingent upon the county clearing the property.
“Smith Chapel is actually a connector road to 177 and 177a and we would be foolish not to take this,” Stafford said.
Commissioners discussed the need for a survey and fence placement to ensure proper right-of-way boundaries. Ellenberg and Erickson requested additional information before proceeding.
The board agreed to table the matter until all commissioners can view the site and assess potential land-clearing costs.
ANDREA WATERS 
Staff Report 