Page 18 tevy county JOURNAL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2006

ommission says no-to water meter replacements

BY CASSIE JOURNIGAN
STAFF WRITER \

Should the city spend $65,000 to replace broken or old
water meters? This was the subject of heated debate during
Monday’s Chiefland city commission meeting.

Water and facilities manager Shane Keene wants to replace
335 radio read water meters. Each costs approximately $190.
Commissioner Teal Pomeroy opened debate with the comment,
“This is not a new issue. It has been brought up before. Most
of the commissioners have received calls from Shane Keene.”
Pomeroy asked Keene what the ratio of water pumped versus
water sold was, adding, “I understand that Chiefland is one of
the better cities for having a close ratio.” Close ratios indicate
that most of the water sold is also billed.

Pomeroy asked Keene how many meters were broken.
Shane said, “Of approximately 900 meters, at least 50 percent
have over 1 million gallons read, and they lose accuracy at
that point.”

Rollin Hudson also raised the question of how many water
meters were broken. Keene answered, “50.”

Pomeroy then stated that the water department had requested
approximately $510,000 in the Aug. 7 city commission
meeting. He added that their budget since has not decreased
but rather increased. ;

Keene noted that a big chunk of that money was to cover
the cost of tank maintenance, and that come Sept. 30 (the end.
of the fiscal year) the money would be gone. When asked by
Pomeroy to clarify, , city attorney Norm Fugate said, “The
money is still in the bank account and the budget can be

Pomeroy seconded the denial, saying, “The water department

-already has $35,000 in the budget to buy meters.”

Keene rejoined, “That’s for repairing tanks and fire hydrants
and the meters.”

Pomeroy noted another major expenditure requested by the
water department in July. That was to remodel the maintenance
office so it would look more professional:

Part of the debate concerned recent Chiefland Citizen
articles. “Mr: Jeff Hardison and Shane Keene co-wrote an

article on the water meters, and also did an article on the
train depot. I disagree with using a newspaper to get projects
done,” Pomeroy said.

Citizen reporter Hardison stood up and refuted the idea
that Keene had initiated the water department and train
depot articles, stating the ideas had come from commission
meetings. ;

The motion to deny was passed 3-2, with mayor Betty
Walker and Alice Monyei casting the two opposing votes,

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

A Public Hearing regarding the Enterprise Zone will be held at the Board of County Commissioners’ meeting room on October 3, 2006, 9 a. m. at the Levy

County Courthouse, 355 S. Court Street, Bronson, FL 32621.

The proposed area(s) are from Williston encompassing the Williston Industrial Airport, Alternate 27 [highway only] up to Bronson incorporating three commercial nodes °
and the Alt. 27 route in the city limits. The second area is in Chiefland, indicating major industrial/commerical areas incorporating the Industrial Park and the corridor leading
into Fanning Springs. These areas will be modified as needed to meet the criteria of the application and comport to the County’s Comprehensive Plan. The actual nominated

STRATEGIC PLAN

Description of the community's goals for revitalizing the Nominated Area. Description of the coordinated efforts for revitalization and explain how these linkages support
the community's goals. The goals must be measurable and annual results/reports. will be required. o

areas are in rough draft at this time.

Goal #1 — Increase higher skill, higher paying jobs; 525 new jobs in Levy County in the first three (3) years at 115% of the County's current annual average, at $12.77/

hour.

Benchmark: The 2004 State of Florida Average Wage Report shows Levy County's average wage at $11.10 per hour. Total number of employed workers in 2005 is

16,682.

Goal #2 — Additional Job Opportunities

Benchmark: Using the Florida Enterprise Zone report to track the increase in employers requesting zone wage credit. The continued monitoring and measurement will

amended for the next year.”

Pomeroy continued with concerns over the city continuing

to spend money, and whether the meters needed replacement.

“How much money are we losing? I. haven’t seen any

figures.”

When Hudson asked Keene whether discounts would be
given if the city bought the meters in quantity, Keene said
they would save about $8 per meter.

Commissioner Teresa Barron moved to deny the request.
“Citizens are going to have to pay more,” she said. “We have
a road that needs to be fixed and we have no idea how much

that will be.”

Manager.

to eliminate the Sunday
ban on alcohol sales on a
business that will soon fall
within Chiefland city limits
if the pending annexation is
successful. Stony Smith and
Jim. Smith are seeking an
exception since their Jiffy
Food Mart is based on 15
years of Sunday liquor sales.
Concerns raised — by
commissioners were many:
Commissioner Rollin
Hudson prefaced his motion
to approve the reading. “They
have a right to do business.
They operated it before
Chiefland made the move, and
they’re not the only ones.”
Mayor Better Walker
agreed before passing her
gavel to second the motion.
Barron was torn: “I’m
a businessperson, and I
understand. However, I
believe the Hudsons knew
there would come a time
when annexation would
occur. I believe a number
of residents are in favor of
keeping Sunday liquor sales
out. That’s part of our small-
town charm.”
Commissioner
Monyei said she would
vote based on what citizens
thought.“T’ve had quite a few
calls on this...The majority

don’t want alcohol sales on.

Sunday. I have to go with the
majority at this point.”
Stony Smith said, “This
issue is about property rights.
Take a deep look at it from a
property rights issue.”
Attorney Fugate thought
the Burt J. Act could be

used by business owners to’

successfully challenge | the
city codes. He added that
annexation exceptions often
carry time limits. Jim Smith
said they would work with
the city, and could live with a
time-limited exception. Both
Smith and Fugate mentioned
a 10-year limit. Hudson
motioned that the annexation
ordinance be amended by
inserting the 10-year limit.
Barron seconded the motion
and it passed with Monyei
casting the dissenting vote.
Robert Beauchamp
addressed city commissioners
on three related issues. ~The
first was the Davis Monk and
Company contract renewal
to perform the city’s audit.
He said that because of the
Enron scandal, accounting
firms are more _ strictly
scrutinized in performing
audits. “It used to be that
Davis Monk could perform a
lot of the work necessary to
complete the audit.” Now the

Alice

4

Continued from front

 

audited agency must perform
those tasks, or hire another
accounting firm to do the
preliminary work.
Beauchamp proposed
that Davis Monk continue
the audits for the city, while
Beauchamp’s firm provide
the background work. These
combined functions would
cost the city approximately
$25,000—$10,000 for. the
audit, and . about’> $12,500)

‘fot Beauchamp" to’ provide

help on an as-needed basis.
His company’s fee would
be given as a not-to-exceed
figure he told council.
Commissioners voted
unanimously to renew the
Davis Monk contract, with
Teal Pometfoy  seconding
Teresa Barron’s motion.
Beauchamp also _~ told
commissioners that although
his company (Beauchamp
and Edwards) had assisted the

-city with two separate utility

billing software packages,
neither had ~— performed
adequately. One, Jay Hawk
Billing, had begun charging a
user fee of $8,000. City staff
and Beauchamp had been
working with Continental
Utility Software for the
past year. “We can’t make
it work,” he said. He added
that Jay Hawk had backed
off their user fee request and
agreed to restore the software
to where it was.

Town clerk Mary Ellzey
added that she had received
a quote from Jay Hawk
earlier Monday. The city
would pay $2,700 to get the
program up and running, and
$3,200 for training. Total
costs of restoring Jay Hawk
as the utility software could
cost as much as $14,000.
Commissioners ‘voted
unanimously to send the
quote back to the company
and ask for a. money-back
guarantee.

Beauchamp also discussed
a cash management plan.
The city currently has $1.23
nillion that would receive a
high interest rate if invested
properly. “I encourage you
to request quotes from local
banks to see what the money
could bring from high-yield
money market funds.” He
added if properly invested
the general fund, water and
sewer funds could bring in
$42,000 in interest. Pomeroy
made the motion to seek
sealed bids and to have
recommendations
for the Oct. 23 commission
meeting. The measure passed
unanimously.

ready

be through the reports and continuous follow-up with employers who make application for the credits. Education programs will be available to educate the opportunities for
housing rehabilitation in the Enterprise Zone allowing families affordable housing and employers the opportunity for wage incentive credits.

Goal #3 — Business retention, expansion, and location into the Enterprise Zone; 30 affected businesses in three (3) years.

Benchmark: Monitoring of municipality utility reports, municipality occupational licenses, leases on compatibly used property, change of zoning requests for compatible
zoning usage, Florida Enterprise Zone report to track those businesses requesting zone wage credit, and surveys [workforce, grants, etc]..

Goal #4 — Affordable Housing Units -construct and/or revitalize 50 workforce housing units in three (3) years.
At the end of 2006, there will be approximately 150 additional workforce housing units completed.

“Benchmark: Levy County Housing Authority, USDA, HUD, FHA, State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP); building permit reports from the County and Municipalities will
provide benchmark results. 5

*Goal #5 — Financial Resources through local, state, and federal funds ;
We anticipate 32 projects to use incentives. Assuming all applications will not qualify, we anticipate submitting an average of five per project.

*Goal #6 — Expansion of Transportation Infrastructure — Rail and Roadway

° Railroad — expansion of current rail into the southeast corner of the Williston Industrial Park and Airport
° Roadways ‘

° Additional roadway in the Williston Industrial Park Airport according to FAA Airport Layout Plan

° US41/SR45 currently being resurfaced and improved by FDOT in Williston

*Goal #7 - Expansion of Utility Systems — Water, Wastewater, Nature Gas, Electric, Storm Water, and Solid Waste.

City of Chiefland expansion of municipal boundary north which will include water and sewer.
City of Fanning Springs in the next three years will expand their waterline south of the city limits of US 19. City of Fanning Springs is currently establishing their sewer. jj.

system.
City of Williston will expand all utility systems (water, wastewater, nature gas, electric, storm water and solid waste) in to the Industrial Park and Airport.
Benchmark: Permits, municipalities billing, occupational licenses, water/sewer hook-ups, and t reports/awards.
Description of the poverty and general distress and the barriers to economic opportunities and development.

Poverty & General Distress - Low average wage, out migration, availability of affordable housing inventory non-existent, lack of career track, job opportunities

Barriers — low unemployment due to out migration, lack of technical and/or vocation training in Levy County, additional incentives needed compete regionally and state-
wide. Affordable. housing inventory non-existent.

hy

Verification that local institutions and organizations participated in the planning process and will be partners in implementing the Strategi¢ Plano Oo of,

The Enterprise Zone Development Agency, Levy County Board of County Commission, City of Bronson, City of Chiefland, and City of Williston by their adoption of the

-resolution. City of Fanning Springs pending resolution on 10/3/06, Nature Coast Business Development Council, Inc., Levy County Code Enforcement, Levy County Sheriff's

Office, Chiefland Police Department, CLM Workforce Development, Central Florida Community College, Unity Family Community Center, Capital City Bank, and Levy Ab-
stract and Title Company. ; .

Commitments from the governing body to enact local fiscal and regulatory incentives. These incentives may include: the municipal public service tax exemption provided
by s. 166.231, the economic development ad valorem tax exemption provided by s. 196.1995, the occupational license tax exemption provided by s. 205.054, local impact
fee abatement or.reduction, or low-interest or interest-free loans or grants to businesses to encourage the revitalization of the nominated area.

Ad valorem — Levy County ballot item for November 2006. City of Williston ballot item for March 2007.
iM ot :

Land lease abatement/reduction — City of Williston has waiver of lease fees available on a case-by-case.basis for ground lease in the Industrial Park.

Participating municipalities may consider the following incentives:

Occupational tax reduction/abatement, Local impact fee abatement/reduction

Lease abatement/reduction, Grants/low-fee loans to businesses for revitalization, and
Municipal public service tax exemption

Identification of the local and private resources available in the Nominated Area.

Enterprise Zone Development Agency; Chamber of Commerce Coalition;

Levy County Board of County Commissioners;

Municipalities: City of Williston, City of Chiefland, City of Bronson, & City of Fanning Springs

Nature Coast Business Development Council, Inc.; Levy County School Board; ;

Central Florida Community College; Santa Fe Community College; University of Florida - Small Business Development Center; CLM Workforce Connection

Pure Water Wilderness; SECO; Clay Electric; Progress Energy; Central FL Electric;

City of Williston Utilities; Levy County Housing Authority; City of Williston Community Redevelop Agency; Residential & Industrial developers; and various service orga-
nizations ‘

Indications of how the state Enterprise Zone tax incentives and local, state, and federal resources will be utilized in the Nominated Area.
Used to attract and retain existing businesses. Local: facilitate start-up business costs by reduction of capital outlay; as incentives; balanced with need by local government

to pay for additional products & services. State & federal tax benefits will be used to attract targeted industries and existing businesses into the Enterprise Zone.

Identification of the baseline data and benchmarks for measuring the success of the strategic plan.

PROPOSED ENTERPRISE ZONE

   
   
   

Baseline Data: Enterprise Florida incorporated, public & private utility companies, municipal
occupational licenses, Bureau of Economic & Business Research, UF,

Levy County Housing Authority, USDA, HUD, FHA, State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP);
building permit reports from the County. and Municipalities will provide benchmark results.

       
 

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Benchmark: ‘The measurement will be: of generally approved qualitative and quantitative
methods in support of the goals #1-7.

 

Implementation Strategy.

 

Concurrent multi-locations developments and implementation. Strategy will be multi-faceted:

° Initiate strategy to identified targeted industries

° Initiate education plan for existing industries to learn about the Enterprise Zone and
it's benefits -

° Education plan for training of workforce for businesses in and locating to the Enter-
prise Zone % ¢

° Initiate marketing plan

° Local newspaper advertising

° Statewide publications

° Website

0 Radio/TV media

0 Collateral media

Loans, grants. & other financial assistance from local, state, and federal governments. Ex-
ecute contracts as are necessary with the implementation of the strategic plan.
Identification of resources supporting the proposed activities of economic human and community development.

The North Florida Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern (RACEC) makes up 13 counties of “Counties of Critical Economic Concern, Group III". The newly re-organized
group is working on a regional basis to provide opportunities to identify assets, share resources and implement a coordinated strategic effort to protect and expand the eco-
nomic health of the region. The group is currently working with Enterprise Florida to identify the appropriate industry clusters for the creation of catalyst projects for the region.
This also includes the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) at the state level of government.

The concept of the North Florida Economic Development group is to select one or two mega sites in the 13 county region to have all the resources come to bear to market
the mega site to a target industry. The Williston Municipal Airport and Industrial Park qualifies as a candidate, The project is regional in scope and both Levy as well as the
surrounding counties will benefit.

Meeting dates/times to be advertised:

City of Fanning Springs on 10/3/06 at 6 p.m, 17651 NW 990th Court, Fanning Springs.

City of Williston on 10/3/06 at 7 p.m, Williston City Hall, 50 NW Main Street, Williston, FL

Enterprise Zone Development Agency on 10/10/06 at 9 a.m. Levy Abstract & Title, 50 Picnic Street, Bronson, FL.
Levy County Board of County Commissioners, 10/3/06 9 a.m. 355 S. Court Street, Bronson, FL 32621.

For information contact: Pamela W. Blair, Executive Director
Nature Coast Business Development Council, Inc.
Enterprise Zone Development Agency

PO Box 1112

Bronson, Florida 32621

(352) 486-5470 Office

(352) 486-5471 Fax

Publish: Sept: :28;:2006 (352) 572-8072 Cell

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