EV Y.E COUNTY PAER EST. 12

 E COUNTY PAIPEREST. 192


VOL. 83, NO. 27


THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 20071 SECTION: 16 PAGES


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OBITUARIES


C. Kathaleen Carpenter
 Henry Eady
 Tanya Hodge
 Charlene Hunt
 Eva Nobles
 Opal Smith
 Loraine Stone

HOME OF...

*


Commission split

on manager's salary

BY CASSIE JOURNIGAN
STAFF WRITER
 CHIEFLAND-Grady Hartzog has a new boss, or five of
them, as of this Friday, when he begins the work Tunning the
city of Chiefland. His final approval came from the same three
who voted for him during the shortlist selection of potential
candidates.
 Commissioners Teresa Barron, Teal Pomeroy and Rollin
Hudson all voted to approve his contract during Monday's city
commission meeting. Mayor Betty Walker and Commissioner
Alice Monyei voted against approving his contract.
 The final point of contention was Hartzog's salary-he
asked for $65,000 per year.
 Rodney Russ, who had served as the last elected city manager,
as well as the two interim managers, Maxie Beauchamp and
Matt Brock, each earned salaries that spread into a year would
have garnered about $55,000. Beauchamp held the post for
approximately one month and Brock for about two months
while commissioners searched for a permanent replacement.
 Of Hartzog's salary request Pomeroy said, "We asked every
single applicant and they all wanted around that amount."
 In response to onlooker Sherry Cruise's challenge that the
money was more than that budgeted for a city manager salary,
Pomeroy said the city had "more than an adequate amount"
set aside.
 Cruise rebutted: "You couldn't budget more money for
police officers after the annexation." Police Chief Robert
Douglas was recently denied a request to add two officers to
his roster.
 Pomeroy countered, "We already have police officers. We
don't have a city manager."
 Walker read from a list of salaries from previous managers.
All had received salaries in the mid 50s.
 Barron recalled previous commission discussions on salary
levels the city would be willing to pay, saying, "We've talked
about salaries and everyone agreed we'd have to pay more."
 Commissioners posted the recent job listing with a salary
range from $46,000 to $70,000.
 Outgoing manager Brock added his comment as well.
Brock, who had been the choice of both Walker and Monyei,
reminded them that his salary request "was in the higher range
at $70,000."
 Monyei's comment was directed to Hartzog: "I hope you're
worth $65,000," she said.


Foresters Salute Cedar Key


 Journal photos by Rhonda Griffiths

THE COMMUNITY of Cedar Key was honored Tuesday for its role in harvesting
red cedars used in pencil manufacturing and pines and bald cypress for
 the lumber industry. The tribute, by the Florida
 Society of American Foresters, included
 unveiling a commemorative plaque near the
 Faraway Inn. Spokesman Ed Barnard said the
 event is "to further the cause of forestry in
 America by fostering a spirit of comradeship
 among foresters; by creating opportunities
 for a free interchange of views upon forestry
 and allied subjects; and by disseminating a
 knowledge of the purpose and achievements
 of forestry." Mark Milligan, with the Division of
 Forestry, and Cedar Key Vice Mayor Vanessa
 Edmunds (top) were on hand to show off the
 plaque. Commission of Agriculture Charles
 Bronson, left, also attended the event.


Council will discuss terms of manager's contract


 Nitya Patel
 of Chiefland
CONTENTS...


BY CASSIE JOURNIGAN
STAFF WRITER
 WILLISTON-Williston
City Council will meet
Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. to discuss
terms of city manager James
Coleman's contract.
 Council member Debra
Jones brought forward the
request, saying she has heard
several comments by people


concerned that Coleman has
never established a residence
within city limits.
 Jones also charged that the
contract as eventually written
was not worded as the council
had requested.

 "On the worksheet, we all
wanted him to move here.
His salary increase was tied


to that. That never made it
into the contract," she said,
adding that the contract ended
up "watered down."
 Jones' assertion that
council was firm over the
residential clause requirement
was challenged by council
member Jerry Robinson.
 Robinson rebutted Jones
with a reminder that she


had voted approval on the
contract's final draft.
 "Nobody wants me here
in the city more than I do,"
Coleman said.

 "I can't control the housing
market. I've been trying to sell
my house for two years. I'm
not going to lose that amount
of money," he added.


 Coleman said that
although he would cooperate
with council in the contract
discussions, he was satisfied
with the contract as it is
written.
 "I will be there, and I will
participate," he answered
after being asked by council
member Cal Byrd whether he
would discuss the contract.


Around Levy 2-3,5, 6, 8
Opinion 4
Law & Courts 5
Obituaries 7
Sports 9-10
Classified 11
Legals 12-13
Land Transactions 13-14
Marketplace 15


Williston will get a facelift with grant funds


BY CASSIE JOURNIGAN
STAFF WRITER
 WILLISTON-Williston's
downtown will soon look
better, if area businesses
take advantage of a new
grant program designed to'
help costs toward facade
improvement.
 Lena Crabtree, of the
Community Redevelopment
Agency (CRA), presented
council members with a
proposal for businesses in the
downtown redevelopment
district to receive matching
funds for business facade
improvements.
 Under this program,
businesses along Noble
Avenue and Main Street can
apply for up to $5,000 to
improve building facades.
 Applications will be
assigned points based on:
 Project transforms
building from worst case to
best case
 The project will


be completed in a style
appropriate to the building
 Must preserve or
restore original decorative
building elements
 Project is needed
to attract or retain tenants
engaged in businesses such as
restaurants, retail, or office
 Project corrects code
deficiencies
 0* Project removes non-
original masonry or wood
cladding
 Project is part of a
complete restoration that
returns a vacant upper-story
storefront to productive use
 Additional points
provided forpainting, awning,
windows, doors, etc.
 Funding will be awarded
for facade work only, and
must be visible from the
targeted business corridor.
Eligible expenses include
signage, awnings or canopies,
facades, walls, fencing and
landscaping. Up to $500


is allowed to be used for
architectural fees.
 Grants will not be awarded


for more than 50 percent of the building or business owners.
total project cost, and cannot Applications are due to CRA
be used for labor completed by by March 31.


 Journal pnoto oy rnonoa riniuis
Perhaps this will be the "before" shot in a "before and after" duo-should
CRA's plans for a matching grant program encourage revitalization of Willis-
ton's commercial downtown. CRA hopes business and building owners on the
Noble-Main Street corridor will apply for up to $5,000 to spruce up building
facades.


REACH US

 Managing Editor
 Carolyn RIsner
 Phone
 (3521490-4462


 Fax
 (3521490-4490 Chlefland
 (3521486-5042 Bronson
 Email
 edltor@levylournal.com
 Address
 P.O. Bx 159 iBrenn, Rl 32621-0159
P.O. Box 2990 Chleflanid, FL 32644-2990


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