Page 10 LEVY COUNTY JOURNAL AROUND LEVY COUNTY THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2006 Reinstated employees set satisfaction Waiting BY CASSIE JOURNIGAN STAFF WRITER Reinstatement agreements between the city of Chiefland and three recently rehired city employees caused much debate during Monday’s city commission meeting. Attorneys representing Mary Ellzey, Bill Hammond and Shane Keene, who were reinstated Aug. 28 after being fired by former city manager Rodney Russ Aug. 14, drew up the agreements. Commissioners questioned agreement items including the employees’ requests for reimbursement for attorney fees and other costs resulting from their terminations. They — requested the reimbursements take — the form of annual leave. They also sought renewal of the unpaid portion of sick leave that remained after the terminations. Ellzey requested _ the © city to reimburse her with 85 hours annual leave for $1,667 in attorney fees and costs; Hammond requested 78.5 hours annual leave to compensate for $1,670; and Keene asked for 86.5 hours for his $1,667 attorney fees. Since back pay was not | mentioned in the reinstatement agreements, Commissioner Teresa Barron asked whether that would be a part of the reinstatement and was informed by interim city manager Maxie Beauchamp that it would. ’ Each employee was out a total of nine days, and would be owed gross payments in the amounts of $1,411.88 for Ellzey, $1,533.16 for Hammond and $1,391.71 for Keene. Commissioner Pomeroy raised Teal concerns about the attorney bills—. whether they had been submitted to the city or if outstanding attorney fees remained. He also said, “I wouldn’t have a problem with this if they (employees) had gone through the process (for reconsideration of terminated employees) in the employee manual. But the process was thwarted.” Local | resident Mary Golding made a_ similar ‘comment, saying, “They opted for an attorney before going through the process.” Unpaid sick leave discussions © also occurred, with commissioner Rollin Hudson stating a problem with the cost to the city. Interim city . manager Maxie Beauchamp objected with the statement “It was not their (terminated employees) fault they were terminated.” Pomeroy disagreed, saying if there was fault, it was not known. Commissioner Alice Monyei stated the opinion that if the employees were not reinstated, the city would have ended up paying a lot more. City attorney, Norm Fugate objected. to clause 5 in the agreement, a promise relating to the original terminations. According to the clause, the employees would not. bring further action on the city in connection with the firings provided that the city cease any further activity against the employees as a result of events that originally led to the terminations. Monyei placed the move to accept the agreements- on the floor and Pomeroy seconded it. Commissioner Rollin Hudson stated, “I am not totally against this but really don’t like paying extra attorney fees... Several | commissioners were ready to put the entire chapter behind them. Hudson said he was reluctant but ‘seconded the earlier motion to accept the reinstatement being uncomfortable with clause 5. Barron wanted to bygones be bygones.” Pomeroy moved to amend the original motion by approving the agreements after striking clause 5. Commissioner Betty Walker thought “no one was going to do anything,” implying that even though the clause contained a loophole for the employees to. eventually hold the. city “let responsible in some way, they weren’t likely to do that. Mary Golding countered, “If no one is going to do anything, then why hot just strike 5?” Pomeroy rescinded his. motion to amend the agreement. When Barron questioned Fugate as to whether he was comfortable or not, he answered, “If the city understands (clause 5) and moving forward is what you want...I think this.is as good as it’s going to get.” The subsequent vote to accept the reinstatement agreements in the form submitted passed three to two, with Barron and Pomeroy opposing. agreements. Fugate reiterated “ gy Neal : MR. AND MRS. LOMER ROGERS will celebrate their 67th wedding anniversary on Friday, Sept. 15. The couple, who live on Shady Grove Road, were mar- ried in the Gilchrist County Courthouse in Trenton by Judge M.G. Akins in 1939. Their.wedding cer- emony was witnessed by Mrs. Rosell Akins, who worked for the judge at the time. Mr. Lomer will be celebrating his 90th birthday on Oct. 3. El Chamber Since then I rave worked as a freelance journalist. Along with my days at the boarding school I attended during my teenage years, my move to Florida 17 years ago and the stops I have made while writing for various racing magazines, I have come to appreciate and enjoy the unique lifestyle that counties like Levy has to offer as well as the rare opportunities community newspapers present. While my travels and moves have given me the opportu- nity to see many different parts of the country and culture, I have loyally stayed in Florida. Although, they have ame the insight to.learn to deal with many. differ; ent issues and people native to a specificregion’there’ are: "few that have madéime feel like a part of the family like Florida and it’s diverse cultures have. Among the reasons for the loyalty are the offerings of Levy County, such as hunting and fishing. So as I embark on a new era of my life, after 17 years in Orlando and Tampa, I not only look forward to the task of building a sports section the county can be proud of, but the opportunities the county offer that one can not find in the big city. \ gy Honey- Continued from page 4 promise of tomorrows Why chance it. Until next week. God loves us. Stay sweet. - Nuff said, Miss Honey Continued from front “ comment’on any’sports/issie. "My Hope*is that by taking ‘Journal. He may be reached at the Chiefland office at awareness,” Edmonds stated. “Ford has been a. national sponsor for the past 12 years. We also participate in the Race for the Cure.” Seventy- five percent of the proceeds. raised from this effort remain in the local area, while the ‘remaining 25 percent goes to breast cancer research and development. White Ford also supports - area children through tri- county youth programs, school athletics and 4-H activities. Suwannee Valley Veterinarian Clinic Small Business Award winner Suwannee Valley Veterinarian Clinic — has provided medical care to dogs and cats and their owners for nearly four decades. Veterinarian David Meeks began the business in 1969. His son-in-law, David Renaud, now runs it. The clinic moved into new offices . this past February. Although the patients may not pay too much attention to their surroundings, pet owners surely must notice the waiting room and lobby—with its cerainic tile floors, curved wood counter and granite top, curved glass brick interior wall, and framed photographs of Old Florida. The back rooms feature examining room, surgery,and ICU. ~ The clinic is home for five cats and they wander the lobby and offices with freedom. Receptionist Safari Fontaine explained that two live out front, in the waiting room area, and three stay in the back with the veterinarians and their assistants. “Lily has one good eye. She lives out here with us, as does our three-legged cat named Lucky,” said Fontaine. “‘Umpy D is nearly blind from an eye disease, so he lives here too, in the back.” Fifteen-year-old’ Umpy D shares quarters with Oscar and Olivia. Renaud is assisted by veterinarians Jennifer McHale and Kathy Bowker. Renaud has been a vet 15 years. “T had a fascination with medicine since I was a young child, and I grew up on a farm. I’ve been around animals all my life.” He’s also well versed in the rearing of children. He has two teen- aged sons and one daughter. “Of all my children, it is my 10-year-old Eliza who wants to be a vet.” Suwannee . my Valley Veterinarian Clinic plans on closing during next week’s award ceremony so that all employees can attend the luncheon. LEVY COUNTY HISTORY 95 YearsAgo Minute Book “J” May 1, 191 p84. RESOLUTION: Commissioners, in regular Attorney General’s View of holding Inquests, that this any bills for holding Inquests known to this Board that t of two or more witnesses caused by the Criminal is g andthat” ‘we wilksonly pay, provided for holding Inques the $10.00 fee for the Autopsy y is necessary only, and th witnesses.” From the A “Resolved — 191 o 91 8 Heeler Meeting of aaa sseeaupaemes ‘ y this Board ' of County eting assembled, under the Law relative to costs of d will not thereafter pay this County, where it is Fe eath was in the presence d where the. death was nd negligence of another,” he $3. eee mileage iS, fo the*respective officers, Examination, when that fees of the jurors and Levy County Clerk’ s Offic ce Danny J. Shipp, Clerk of Court > Journal photo by Cassie Journigan |} ‘FOUR-YEAR-OLD Resed Buie waits his turn to slide down the jungle gym’s fireman pole at Eddie | Buie Park. No doubt he is also thinking about the. giant sheet cake awaiting cutting in the nearby |, picnic pavilion. | Continued from page 4 Over the next several months, the Journal will be ex- panding its coverage of Levy County with a new sports section. The Journal’s coverage will include traditional as well as non-traditional coverage of Levy County’s sports scene. Coverage of the three high schools we cover, Williston, Bronson and Chiefland as well as the county’s favorite leisure and recreational activities will be introduced on a gradual, but steady basis. There will also be some new material not usually printed in com- ~ munity newspapers. Please feel free to let us know what you think of the section, make,any suggestions, or simply this direction, the Journal can produce a sports section and a paper that has the flair of our big city brethren, while conveying and displaying the small town charm Levy County has. Neal Fisher is a sports writer for the Levy County 490-4462. Irene Lloyd to celebrate 95th year Irene Lloyd will celebrate her 95th birthday with a party hosted by family and friends, Saturday, Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. at Bronson Town Hall. All family and friends are invited to help her celebrate the day. a Budget Summary Town of Otter Creek - Fiscal Year 2006-2007 THE PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET EXPENDITURES OF THE _ TOWN OF OTTER CREEK ARE 0.4% MORE THAN LAST YEAR’S TOTAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES General Fund ESTIMATED REVENUES: Taxes Ad Valorem Taxes Sales and Use Taxes. - Charges for Services Intergovernmental Revenue Fines and Forfeitures Miscellaneous Revenue Licenses and Permits 3.0000 Millage Per $1000 3.0000 13,316 12,000 29,500 TOTAL SOURCES 9 VIG NE e—eee Inter-fund Transfers Fund Balances,Reserves/Net Assets....1 19,000 . : TOTAL REVENUES & BALANCES... EXPENDITURES General Government Public Safety Physical Environment Transportation Debt Service Human Services Internal Services 186,100 25,900 20,000 1,200 * 3,840 0 0 400 15,760 18,916 400 15,760 ON IS, TOTAL EXPENDITURES $67,100 18,916 86,016 50,100 169,100 Fund Balances,Reserves/Net Assets _ 119,000 : TOTAL APPROPRIATED EXPENDITURES TRANSFERS, RESERVES & BALANCES 186,100 ; 255,116 THE TENTATIVE, ADOPTED, AND/OR FINAL BUDGETS ARE ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED TAXING AUTHORITY AS A PUBLIC RECORD 69,016