Chiefland Commissioners Discuss Police Contract in “Shade Meeting”; Golf Cart Driving Area; City Budget Meetings & Honoring Police Employee

Police Chief Scott Anderson honors police employee Candace Cline for 10 years of dedicated service.

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

Chiefland City Commissioners finished their 20-minute meeting Monday with an announcement by City Manager Mary Ellzey that they would be convening again in private to discuss the police union contract.

State law permits cities and counties to hold “shade meetings” outside the view of the press and public to develop strategies and discuss options for union negotiations.

These private meetings are often referred to as “shade meetings” because they aren’t subject to be open to the public under the state Sunshine Law.

Chiefland police are represented by the Police Benevolent Association. Their pay is often the issue because city police aren’t paid competitive salaries when compared to neighboring counties.
Police Chief Scott Anderson struggles to keep experienced officers on his staff.

Golf Cart Driving Area

Commissioners granted the residents of Strawberry Fields RV Park permission to use their golf carts on specific streets near the park.

The board approved the following streets for golf cart use.

NE 4^th St. between Alternative U.S. 27A and U.S. Highway 129, the street that runs past Strawberry Fields.
NE 8^th Terrace
NE 9^th Terrace
NE 10^th Terrace
NE 11^th Drive between NE 8^th Terrace and U.S. 129.

With the new arrangements, residents can drove their golf carts to Ralph’s Burger House, Ace Hardware and a small shopping center on the same side of the road as well as First Baptist Church.

Commissioner Tim West, who manages Strawberry field, abstained on the 4-0 vote.

James Moore Contract Extension

The board gave James Moore & Co. a contract extension of one-year to handle the city’s external auditing services.

Commissioners entered into an auditing services agreement with the company on Sept. 28, 2015. The three-year contract ended on Sept. 30, 2017 with the option for two additional one-year extensions.

The first one year extension was approved on Sept. 24, 2018. The fee for fiscal year 2019 is unknown, Ellzey said. She won’t know for another month.

City Budget Meetings

City departments have begun working on the proposed budgets for the 2019-2020 year. All budget meetings and hearings will be held immediately after city commission meetings on the following dates: