The Leon County Commission is taking steps to alter the structure of the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency. Frustrations are growing with how Blueprint spends its money, which comes via a one-cent sales tax surcharge.
County Commissioner Christian Caban raised the issue, saying he’s concerned about the structure of the Blueprint staff. He believes the Blueprint staff should report directly to both the city and the county, which together form Blueprint's board of directors. He pointed out that the county administrator and county attorney report directly to the county commission.
“…We can give them board direction. Blueprint, we cannot really do that,” Caban said. “The IA agreement clearly lays that out. I think we have a great county. The way that this board runs is collegial, it’s professional and it’s efficient. I think people realize that and they see that. Blueprint is different. I think we should be asking why is Blueprint different.”
Currently, Blueprint staff report to County Administrator Vince Long and City Manager Reese Goad.
Last month Blueprint approved a controversial expenditure of $1.8 million for SOMO Walls, whose developer has been politically involved with almost all of the officials who voted for the project. And last year Blueprint approved a $20 million expenditure for repairs to Doak Campbell Stadium – a move that became a key issue in last year’s elections.
County Commission Chair Nick Maddox pushed for a joint meeting with the city commission to discuss the dual-agency's future.
“If we send it over and they say, ‘Okay, we’re willing to come to a joint workshop,’ that means that they have things they want to see changed, too,” Maddox said. “And something in that workshop is going to get changed. But if we send it over and they’re not even willing to come over and have a workshop, then it’s no point in us having a discussion.”
The commission tasked the county attorney with researching what would be involved in making potential changes.
Caban says the interlocal agreement should be reassessed over time, like any contract in the public interest, and that the commission’s unanimous vote shows his colleagues agree.
County Commissioner Brian Welch says he wants to “avoid the dysfunction we have seen recently, especially as it relates to efforts to de-fund or otherwise redirect money that has been targeted to voter-approved projects.”
County Commissioner David O’Keefe says when he was campaigning, Blueprint was the number-one issue voters wanted to discuss. He wants the Blueprint attorney to report directly to the board of directors; put Blueprint under an independent ethics board; and “focus development efforts on businesses that meet community needs while creating jobs.”
