Page 22

BY CAROLYN RISNER
Manaainc EpiTor

It’s a fine line between
the EMS and county roads.
Or is it? At Tuesday night’s
public hearing on special as-
sessments, several county
residents used the two inter-
changeably and at one point
caused chaos in the court-
room.

Commissioner Sammy
Yearty, acting as chairman in
the absence of Nancy Bell,
explained the hearing would
be in three phrases: EMS,
roads and fire.

But from the get go, resi-

Getting Closer

Mayor

¢ Heard public comment

relating to placing of
anonymous letters of
complaint . against city

employees in employee files.
Resident Tony Crews stated
he thought employees should
have the right to know who
made the complaints, and that
letters should not be placed in
employee files without having
been investigated. He was
advised by city attorney Norm
Fugate that state law requires
that all correspondence
received by a municipality be

_kept as public records.

' © Heard about Law
Enforcement Day activities
(Sept. 21 at Tommy Usher
Center) in a letter from
Barbara Lunsford.

¢ Heard resident Stoney
Smith’s request to allow
him to continue his normal
business once the involuntary
annexation . takes _ effect.
Smith’s business includes

Tax

 

LEVY COUNTY JOURNAL

dents took the opportunity to
criticize the EMS and its re-
sponse time, blaming much
of its shortcomings on poor
roads.

The EMS assessment of
$75 did not increase this year
and yet for more than 45
minutes people took umbrage
with the service, especially
several living in the Ocala
Highlands West Subdivison.
Accusations and allegations
about the EMS service, cou-
pled with the dusty limer-
ock roads, spewed from the
mouth of one man.

After allowing him to speak

AROUND LEWY COUNTY me
Assessment hearing turns into pandemonium

for several minutes, Yearty
asked him to allow someone
else the opportunity and said
he could speak again when
the subject was roads.

As the man made way to
the back of the room, an ob-
scenity was called out, fol-
lowed by another.

At that point several people
began talking at once. with
Yearty trying to restore order,
calling out that profanities
would not be tolerated.

A deputy was sent to the
back of the room to find the
person responsible for the ob-
scenity but residents from the

 

Journa photo by Cassie Journigan
SAY WE NEED a hospital? Many people want it for convenient access to
emergency health care, but some are looking forward to new employment
possibilities. Frank Schupp, of Health Development and Associates, the
company working to bring the Ameris Health Systems project to Chiefland,
said, “The sign was only put up this morning and I’ve already had three
phone calls for job interviews.” Schupp and realtor Jim King stand to the
left of the sign, and property owners Tommy and Lois Livingston are to the
right. The 20-acre parcel is located behind the Wal-Mart Super-Center.

sales of liquor,
which is
prohibited on
Sundays within
city limits. The
commission
entertained
a motion to
allow existing
‘businesses’ to
continue with Sunday liquor
sales. This item will need
passage of an ordinance

MAYOR
BETTY WALKER

-after coming back for two

readings.

* Heard discussion by
Pomeroy and Walker. to fix
a sinkhole behind Chiefland
Farm Supply. | Pomeroy
motioned that the road ‘be

_ fixed and that updates be

added as a regular agenda
items so the commission
could remain informed of
progress. His motion was
seconded by Walker and met
unanimous approval.

 

* Pomeroy also brought up
the hold-ups to development
progress being made within
city limits. He said certain
improvements already made
by developers benefit the city,
and that these projects present

_ “the city with a chance to get
‘something done.” He moved

that a joint meeting be called
between commissioners
and the city planning
board to discuss upcoming
developments. After Hudson
seconded his motion, it
received unanimous passage.

¢ Heard a request by a
resident to reduce sewer
fees on a bill after water
accidentally was left running
while the residents were
out of town. Resident Tony
Crews pointed out that if this
request were granted, more

residents could:come forward
and ask for sewer reductions -

since water used outside, for

subdivision bandied together
saying no one said anything
nor had profanity been used.
Dozens of voices blended to-
gether as several tried to out
shout others.

“There’s a lot of frustration
in the room,” someone said.

“Shut up and let me tell
you something,” Yearty said.
“Promise me you'll behave.
Somebody’s going to be in
trouble if we don’t behave.”
At one point he threatened to
cancel the hearing.

County Coordinator Fred ,

Moody was asked to call 911
for backup. Finally order was
restored with Yearty giving
the folks another chance to
stay in the courtroom as long
as they were respectful and
courteous.

At last the vote was taken
to keep EMS assessments a}
$75.

When the hearing for roads
came up, emotions once
again ran high as one person
after the other talked about
dust from the limerock roads
and the health repercussions
it had.

Special assessments for
Suncoast Estates ($113.22)
and Ocala Highlands West
($33.64) were proposed but

after a long session of public
comment, the commissioners"

voted to not pass a resolution
for the collection of those two
assessments.

The decision came after
several residents in both de-
velopments said they didn’t
need any more limerock
which would in turn cause
more dust.

The commissioners tried to
explain that this assessment
would ensure regular main-

example, to wash cars and
to water lawns, also was not

burdening the sewer system.

He also stated that since the
water customers had admitted
to leaving the water on, they
should bear the responsibility.
Commissioners granted the
reduction request.

¢ Mayor Walker mentioned
a $650,000 grant that the
city has that is currently at a
stopping point. “I’m anxious
to get some things done, get
the city cleaned up; get the
annexation moving again.” .

‘© Discussed the process
to hire a new city manager.
Commissioners agreed to use
the process currently in place,
but to shorten the timeframe
for listing the advertisement
from two months to six weeks,
and to add a job listing on the
city’s website.

¢ Unanimously accepted
a proclamation setting aside

‘Club members.

was the first citizen to take the floor. He told the commission-
ers that regular people cannot afford the new valuations and
the increased taxes. He said appealing assessments was “an
exercise in futility.”

He encouraged the commissioners to reduce the millage
by 3 mills and countered Parker’s claim by saying property
values will not decrease over the years, but they could flatten
out.

Bibby also warned that Nancy Bell barely got re- -elected
and soon there would be three other commissioners seeking
office.

‘Yearty was not thappy and told Bibby, “We’re not here to be
threatened by a vote.”

“T thought I had a right to speak, 2 Bibby said.

Yearty confirmed he did and allowed Bibby to continue
with his urging to get an economic development plan in place
to expand the tax base and take some of the burden off indi-
viduals.

Yearty reminded him there is a council in place but Bibby
said it wasn’t doing anything—there were no new businesses,
no new jobs and no one is living better.

“None of us has gotten a 43 percent increase lately,” Bibby
said.

Others including Shellie Downs, Howard Walker, Marty
_ Williams, Harry Hopwood and Jack Donnell followed Bibby,
each asking for relief.

Jennie Pinto, a Cedar Key resident, pleaded for equity in
appraisals and urged the commissioner to direct the property
appraiser to treat everyone the same.

Pinto alleged that Cedar Key property ae are not in line
with other areas.

She said when she asked Francis Akins, the property ap-
praiser, for a form to appeal the value to the Value Adjustment

,

Board, the was told he could not give her one without first
consulting with the county commissioners.
County Coordinator Fred Moody said Commissioner Lilly

- Rooks had asked that those forms be available Monday night

for disgruntled property owners, but Akins did not think it
was a good idea.
Moody also noted that Akins has not shown himself at a tax-

. payer meeting in Cedar Key nor the meeting Monday night.

The commissioners again stressed to the group they cannot
control constitutional officers and told the residents how "
appeal their valuations. '

Jerry Lawrence of Cedar Key again asked the commission-
ers to lower the millage more. If the millage were reduced
more, it would still mean a 26 percent increase over last year
he said. “Why not be satisfied with 10 percent?” Lawrence
asked,

Parker told Lawishee and the others the county has had a
series of workshops'for weeks and the tentative budget has
been available as well:,

“Tt’s easy for you ito say cut it 3 mills,” he said, “and get
a hand clap, but I have to ensure we can provide services. I
don’t know how to give you the money back and still provide
services,” Parker finished.

On a motion by Parker and a second by Danny Stevens,
who did not speak during the hearing, the commissioners
unanimously agreed to set the tentative millage at 7.9 mills.

Cries of “Lower” filled the room, as well as catcalls aimed
at the commissioners:

“Why did you vote?” A voice called out.

“This was a waste of our time,” said another.

“You had your minds made up before we came here,” still
another called as more than 75 percent of the group walked
out. f

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2006

tenance on those roads which
would better prepare them for
paving one day. a vacancy affidavit, will save

As it is now, the roads are those business owners mon-
not county roads and are not ey.
on the regular maintenance Other business
list. weren’t as happy.

Residents wouldhave none —_ The owner of BK Cypress
of it. Several said they had as-. in Bronson said her taxes
sumed responsibility for the would be some $6,000 a year.
care of the roads themselves That coupled with tangible
while others wanted asphalt taxes and real estate taxes
or nothing. would mean almost $25,000

Many talked about emphy- annually paid to Levy Coun-
sema, asthma and other lung
conditions that are exacerbat-
ed by the dusty roads.

Concern for the elderly
and the very young was men-
tioned again and again.

Commissioner Lilly Rooks
asked if the citizens were
willing to pay for the roads to
be paved--to the tune of about
$2,658 per property owner.

Others complained about
idle road crews, inadequate
work and improper mainte-
nance.

Bruce Greenlee, Road Ad-
ministrative Superintendent,
stood at the ending of the
hearing segment.

Greenlee said much of what
he heard Tuesday night was
heard for the first time. Most
of the problems and concerns
had not been brought before
him, he said.

“When I get a call at the -
road department,” Greenlee
said, “I respond. I’m standing
up in defense of me because
I know I’ve done what I sup-
posed to do.”

Lastly, the hearing on fire
assessments was held and RV
park owners were smiling af-
ter the formula was redone to
allot the average square foot
per unit to 191 feet, compared

to what it was two weeks ago
at 1,200. The reduction, plus

owners

She chastised the commis-
sioners for their 1.1 mill de-
crease Monday night, calling
it miniscule.

As a business owner, she
said she understood budgets
and also knew you cannot say
yes to all your employees.
She told the commissioners
the increase was too much at
once.

_. “This tax is like a dagger,”
she said.

Commissioner Tony Park-
er said the commission was
trying to be business friendly
and the: millage reduction
would help offset the assess-
ments.

“1.1 mills
able,” she said. “I don’t know
it saved me any money,” she
continued, adding she was

egory.
Owners of deer camps,

ings also called the fire as-
sessments unfair and asked
the commissioners to evalu-
ate their situations.

The residential fire assess-
ment was set at $37 per struc-
ture. A complete list of as-
sessments will be published
next week.

 

v

Continued from pont
the week of Oct. 15 as White

¢ Gave unanimous approval

Cane Week. This supports to Library Director Bonnie
efforts for the blind by Lions Tollefson’s renewal of the

interlocal library agreement.

 

Journal photo by Cassie Journigan

JUDGE SMITH swears in newly reelected Chiefland
commissioners Teresa Barron and Teal Pomeroy.

 

Continued from front
Yearty called for order and threatened ro by a deputy

if order wasn’t restored.

Following a recess where Rees rovantigared the new mill-
age rate and when the meeting reconvened, the commission-
ers unanimously approved a tentative budget of $77,891,819,
which includes all monies channeled through the county
(grants, fees, forfeitures etc), not just ad valorem taxes.

The commissioners will meet again Sept. 25 to adopt a final
budget and millage rate.

Copies of the budget, at more than 100 pages, are available
for public inspection.

Last year’s budget was $57.2 million, Which means the
county budgeted almost $20 million more this year.

 

|

is Hiabcep!

-simply paying in another cat--

pole barns and empty build-