L A


6A The Lev Count Jour l


XEWS


The County Paper, Est. 1923


levyjournalonline.com


Bronson Youth League gets new leadership


Story and photo by Terry Witt
Staff Writer

 Bronson Youth League is back in.operation.
 The group reorganized last week following the
resignation of President Garry Mitchell.
 Joe Markham was elected president and Jimmy Dunford
vice president. Sherry Schuler was elected treasurer and
Kelli Brettel as secretary. Julie Robinson was selected as a
fifth board member to ensure there are no tie votes.
 The commissioners of each of the sports were also
elected. Lee Short is softball commissioner, James
Sullivan baseball commissioner, Don Harris football
commissioner, Sherry Schuler basketball commissioner,
and Tina Wilkerson cheerleading commissioner.
 The organization had virtually fallen apart in recent
months. The leadership, particularly Mitchell, had been
criticized for the way BYL was run. Jimmy Durden, former
BYL president, had organized a separate girls' softball
league.
 Markham said all the sports are now under BYL. Durden
said he is satisfied BYL has a good board now.
 In a recent town council meeting, Markham had indicated
he wanted to help, but wasn't interested in the presidency.
He wasn't sure he had enough time to be president. He
wants to spend as much quality time as possible with his
own two children.


Joe Markham, the new BYA President, (left) and James Sullivan, the new baseball commissioner, listen
to the discussion.
 But Markham said the adults in the community have to shot down. Brettel is the town clerk and Dunford also
make time to help the children. works for the city. City leaders are part of the organization's
 "There's nothing for them to do in Bronson now. That leadership.
little 15-acre piece of land is all we got," he said. Schuler said the organization's bills are paid and there
 Sullivan asked whether the organization wanted city is $1,600 in the bank, but she said no trophies have been
oversight for the next six months. His motion was quickly bought.


City offers fee waiver for proposed apartment complex


Story and photo by Terry Witt
Staff Writer

 Chiefland city commissioners
offered financial support Monday
for an $8 million apartment
complex that would house people
age 55 and older who make no
more than $19,080 annually.
 Creative Choice Homes is
hoping to build a 72-apartment
rental complex on 10 acres of pine
forest .owned by the Usher family
about a block west of the Tommy
Usher Community Center off State
Ro] 45. '45
 Commissioners agreed to give
the developer, Jason Larson, a.
letter saying the city would. waive
$20,000 in building department
fees. Larson said the state wants
the city to make a good faith
financial commitment in support
of the project.
 Larson said the plan is to apply
for $7 million in federal stimulus
funds through the Florida Housing
Finance Corporation to help
pay for the housing complex at
Southwest 10th St. and S.R: 345. It
would stand across the street from
the eastern edge of Espana Oaks.
 The owners could charge
a maximum of $526 for a two
bedroom apartment and $440 for
a one bedroom 'apartment. Rent
increases could be tied to spikes in
the cost of living.
 "We're applying for almost
$7,000,000 and those funds are
going to go somewhere, so they
might as well come to Chiefland,"
Larson wrote in a May 1 letter.
 Laurie Copeland, financial
project director for the city, said
this is a rent-subsidized apartment
complex much like Sunset Villas.
However, Larson said he prefers
not to use the term "subsidized." He
described the apartment complex
as an upscale version of rent-
controlled apartment complex.
 "This is not a Buie Park
project," realtor Doug King said.
"These people won't be a drag on


 Memorial


the community. They will buy cars,
eat at restaurants and buy groceries
like everyone else."
 King said the city stands to
gain from the development. He
said the city will receive more
than $68,000 for meter hookups,
electric connections and deposits.
The impact fees will be $97,542.,
The city has adbpted an ordinance
that exempts new developments
from paying impact fees through
Dec. 31, 2009, but Larson said this
development won't be in place until
2011, assuming it gets funded.
 King said the LUshers were
careful about what type of project
Larson was proposing. They asked
a lot of questions. They don't want
something that will be a problem
for the city. King said meetings
took place with Mayor Teal,
Pomeroy to answer his questions
about the complex.
 In other business:
 Commissioners continued the
city's business relationship with
Michael Michaelis, who acts as the
city's insurance broker for all lines
of insurance. Michaelis works for
Don Martin Insurance.
 City staff had asked for
permission to send out a request
for qualifications for single source
brokers. Staff felt that because
insurance was one of the city's
biggest expenses they wanted to
ensure the city received the best
coverage at the best rate.
 Michaelis said he has been
the city's single source broker for
seven years and felt he had done
a good job of searching for the
best deals for the city. He said
last year .he offered the city five
options for reducing the cost of
health insurance, but the city kept
the existing plan with a 26 percent
increase.
 "You cannot get a better price
by leaving me," he said.
 Commissioner Rollin Hudson
cast the lone "no vote" against
keeping Michaelis as the single
source broker. He said part of


service


the reason is that City Manager
Grady Hartzog, the man who had
put the item on the agenda was
not present. The second reason is
that the man who had complained
to Commissioner Sammy Cason
about not giving other brokers a
chance to bid had also complained
to him.
 "I'm not against ya," Hudson
said.
 "He just voted against ya,"
Mayor Teal Pomeroy joked.
 Cason said the city commission
is here to. get the cheapest price
possl : and if this is the \av to go,
he supports it.
 Commissioners agreed to
hold budget workshops at 5 p.m.
on July 14, July 28 and if necessary
on Aug. 11. The board will hash out
the details of its 2009-2010 budget
in the workshops before the two
required public hearings.
 The board decided against
erecting a fence around the new
skateboard park. A six-foot chain
link fence would have cost $4,500.
Commissioner Teresa Barron, who
had a great deal to do with creating
the park, was opposed to the fencing
idea. She suggested lighting the
park. However, Pomeroy suggested
waiting until the city was further
along with budget discussions to
see if it could afford lighting.
 City Clerk Mary Ellzey
announced qualification dates for
the upcoming Aug. 4 election.
Candidates for the seats held by
Group 1 Commissioner Frank Buie,
Group 3 Commissioner Rollin
Hudson and Group 5 Commissioner
Sammy Casonmust qualify between
the dates of Monday, June 15 and
Friday, June 19 between 8 a.m. and
4:30 p.m.
 The city's plan to double
the size of Strickland Park with
a Florida Forever grant will have
to be put on hold. The Florida
Legislature did not include the
Florida Forever grant cycl6 in the
state budget. The state will not be
accepting any grant applications


Commissioner Sammy Cason presents student of the month
certificates to Tevin Mills (left) and Alex Salas.
for this cycle. The city had been not complain about assignments
working with the Hardee family on and always tries his best. He is a
purchasing apiece oftheir property pleasure to have in our classroom.
that adjoins the park. N ChieflandMiddle School sixth
 Commissioners approved an grader Kaitlyn Kantor, daughter of
amendment to the city's credit card Melanie Quincey, was nominated
policy allowing Chiefland Fire by the sixth grade teachers who
and Rescue to use the daily log for described her as a hard working,
fuel card sign out. The log can be cooperative and enthusiastic young
audited. lady when it comes to school. She
 N TheFloridaPoliceBenevolent is always ready to learn and eager
Association, Inc. notified the city to help others.
that it wants to re-open contract 0 Chiefland High School senior
negotiations for wages for the Tevin Mills, son of Karen and
coming fiscal year. Grady Mills, is a hard working 1.2th
 Commissioner Sammy Cason grader who strives to make good
presented framed certificates to the grades and challenges himself by
Student of the Month winners. taking the higher academic courses
 Chiefland Elementary School offered at CHS. His teacher, Jan
third grader Alex Salas, son of Ana O'Neill, said he is a pleasure to
Bahales and Alex Salas Gonzalez, have in class because he engages
was nominated by his teacher, in the subject being taught and
Lisa Baxter. She said Alex is a always has questions relevant to
very respectful and well behaved the subject. Tevin rarely misses
student. He is also kind and gets class. If he is out, he makes sure
along well with others. He does his makeup work is completed.


Saturday for Confederate soldier


 The John Hance O'Steen Camp 770, Sons of the
Confederate Veterans, will hold a memorial service on
Saturday, May 16, to honor Confederate soldier George W.
Martin, The service will be held at the Bell Cemetery, Bell,
Florida starting at 2 p.m.
 George Martin was born on March 22, 1839 in Barnwell,
S.C. He moved to New River County, Florida (present day
Bradford County) before the Civil War and settled near
Starke with his wife, Rebeca. When the war started and
the call went out for soldiers, Martin traveled to Suwannee
County and enlisted on Jan. 1, 1862. He was enrolled in
Company H of the 1st Florida Calvary.


 When the 1st Florida Calvary left Florida in 1862,
Company H volunteered to dismount and fight as infantry
in the Kentucky and Tennessee campaigns. Company H
participated in the battles of Richmond, Chickamauga and
Missionary Ridge.
 On Nov. 24, 1863, Martin and his fellow soldiers were
captured in the battle of Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, and
were sent to the Union prison at Rock Island, Illinois for
the remainder of the war. Martin was exchanged at the
mouth of the Red River on May 31, 1865 and paroled at
Natchez on or about June 3, 1865.
 Following the war, Martin returned to Florida and


settled in the Fort White area of Columbia County where
he farmed. He married his second wife, Elizabeth Alford,
on Oct. 20, 1867. Martin died in January of 1916 at age 76
and was buried in a cemetery at Bell.
 Following the memorial service, guests are invited to
visit with the Martin family and their friends and neighbors.
It is suggested that those who attend bring a folding chair.
 The Bell Cemetery is located on Cemetery Road in
southwest Bell. Cemetery Road can be accessed from State
Road 129 or County Road 342 (Strickland Avenue). For
more information contact Commander Clement Lindsey
(315) 317-4941.
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May 14, 2009