COMMISSIONERS:

 

ERIC F. HINSON
District 1

ANTHONY O. DEE JACKSON
VIEGBESIE, PH.D. Interim

District 2 GADSDEN COUNTY County Administrator

GENE MORGAN
Board of County Commissioners 33;? 1,335,112:
District 4

SHERRIE TAYLOR GADSDEN COUNTY GOVERNMENTAL COMPLEX

District 5
May 7, 2018

David Gardner, Executive Director
Gadsden County Chamber of Commerce
208 North Adams Street

Quincy, Florida 32351

Dear Mr. Gardner:

It has come to my attention that an article was published in the May 4, 2018 edition of the Tallahassee
Democrat regarding Gadsden County. Although, Gadsden County does not regulate the activities of the
Gadsden County Chamber of Commerce, we?d like the courtesy of reviewing or having some input
before any media correspondence is published.

As the Interim County Administrator for the Board of County Commissioners, I?m tasked with ensuring
the County is represented positively and accurately. Based on the overwhelming response from our
citizenry and business community, the recently published article is Viewed far from positive.

Thanks in advance for your support in this effort. If there are any questions or concerns, please don?t
hesitate to contact me, (850) 875-8650.

 

Interim County Administrator
Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners

DJ/llb

Enclosure

9-B East Jefferson Street P. O. Box 1799 Quincy, Florida - 32353?1799' (850) 875-8650 (850) 875-8655 FAX


    

GADSDEN COUNTY

FLORIDA

    
 

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

GADSDEN COUNTY CHAMBER OE COMMERCE

 

   

  

May 16, 2018 208 North Adams Street
Quincy, FL 3235]

Phone: 850.627.9231
Fax: 850.875.3299

 
   
 

Dee Jackson, Interim County Administrator

 
 

Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners Executive Director;

 
 

Gadsden County Governmental Complex David A. Gardner
9?13 East Jefferson/PO. Box 1799 daV?dgardmm?d-?m
Quincy, Florida 3235 3? 1799

 
   
    
  

 

  

Dear Mrs. Jackson:
DUTIFULLY AND

 
     
   
       
 

1h . . [h VOLUNTARILY
On May 8 I received your correspondence the May 4 article in the REPRESENTING
Tallahassee Democrat regarding medical marijuana in Gadsden County and, in CHATTAHOOCHEE
. . . GREENSBORO, GRETNA,

accordance w1th our pollcy, immediately forwarded the same to the Board of HAVANAJIIDWAY.
Directors for the Gadsden County Chamber of Commerce for their review and QUINCYANDALL 

. . BEA unrut GADSDEN
cons1derat10n. COUNTY FLORIDA

SINCE 1946.

   

In this regard, it is imperative to please understand that, as the leading advocacy

 
 

organization for the business community in Gadsden County since 1946, it

 
 

would be inappropriate in our opinion for the Chamber to submit commentary

 
 

to the County for its review, input or pre-approval. Such would be establishing

 
 

a precedent for possible censure of the business community's collective voice

 
 

going forward.

 
 

  

Regarding the previously mentioned board review, consensus concern pertinent
to your correspondence is primarily twofold as follows:

 
    
 

First, as the County funds the Small Business Services Program, is your current
request submitted within the context of our contractual relationship and are the

 
 

implications if the Chamber does not honor your request, that funding for the

 
 

program is in jeopardy?

 
 

  

Secondly, and even more relevant to your correspondence, is the misguided
perception that the Chamber would be the appropriate contact regarding the

 
 

aforementioned article. One would be much better served by directing such

 
 

displeasure instead to the Tallahassee Democrat regarding their article as the

 
 

Chamber did not solicit, write, initiate or coordinate the article in question.

 
 

We have absolutely no input or control over such commercial journalism, a fact

 
 

which may have regrettably escaped some.

 
 
  
 

Gadsden County Correspondence re: Article of May 4, 2018

 

Chamber Response

  

  

While indeed further explanation is without warrant, the fact is that I was one of several Gadsden County

   

citizens solicited and interviewed by the reporter from the Democrat who formulated the content for the

 
 

article and the list of individuals she interviewed independent of the Chamber?s Board and Staff.

   

During my interview by the reporter, she indicated that she had ?reached out? to various entities including

   

several County Commissioners and the Gadsden County Development Council. You will note, from the

 
 

article, that she also spoke to city officials, business owners and private citizens alike. Additionally, in my

 
 

opinion, the reporter apparently relied on third party information regarding Gadsden County obtained

 
 

from public sources like CareerSource, Florida Department of Education and the Florida Chamber of

 
 

Commerce to conclude that Gadsden County is ?impoverished? or ?one of Florida?s poorest.?

 
    

While the Chamber does not provide data to the County or any other entities which assesses rates and/ or
reports on Gadsden County and its population when compared to other Florida counties, for the past three

 
 

years, Gadsden County has provided the county health ratings and rankings to the public in conjunction

 
 

with the Robert Wood Johnson grant program. The County's own information has presented county-wide

 
 

health statistics which paint a ?far from positive? picture of our historic performance as a community.

 
 

Additionally, County leaders have been very visible and vocal in supporting the ?Gaming Industry? in our

 
 

county. This controversial industry, like medical marijuana, continues to provoke strong negative reaction

 
 

from citizens and stakeholder despite our belief that it will have a positive impact on job creation and

 
 

increase tourists to our county. In this regard, some have inquired as to Whether our County Administration

 
 

may have, in all fairness, made similar requests of the City of Gretna, or other private entities.

   

In closing, as a Gadsden County citizen and third generation leader for the Gadsden County Chamber of

 
 

Commerce, I am deeply troubled by the insinuation that I or anyone at the Chamber would knowingly and

 
 

willingly participate in any campaign to disparage our great county or Gadsden County government.

     

As the Chamber?s Executive Director, I am charged with working to present our community in the best
possible light in accordance with professional decorum and common sense. In reading the article, you
would clearly see that my comments were all positive in tone and intent. Further, most of my comments

     
  

were regarding Trulieve, a Gadsden County Chamber Member or the Medical Marijuana industry in

  
  

general .

 
   
 

 
 

While I, if given an opportunity, may have changed some of the reporter?s words, I remain pleased that she
recognized economic development opportunities and notable employers in Gadsden County. As a Quincy

 
 

business owner expressed on Facebook, ?We all should not only be disappointed with how our county is

 
 

erceived we should be ins ired to ?ste and work towards eradicatin the challen es our citizens face


 
 

every day as they struggle with un- and under?employment, low wages, low graduation rates and health

 
 

issues by building a better county for our citizens?.

     

As we have in the past, the Gadsden County Chamber of Commerce will continue to lead Gadsden
County?s private sector commercial and economic development efforts and work closely with the County

 

in any way possible to benefit our community.

  

   

Chamber Response Gadsden County Correspondence re: Article of May 4, 2018

  

Sincerely,

Max,

Delvid Gardner

Executive Director

WMM

ra 0rd Mayo
Chair of Board

 

CC:
Board of Directors; Gadsden County Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Rob Nixon; Gadsden County Small Business Services Program

GADSDEN COUNTY

FLORIDA

CHAMBER 01" 

Chamber Response Gadsden County Correspondence re: Article of May 4, 2018