Photo by Terry Witt: Williston Mayor Jerry Robinson commended the city’s star K-9 Unit, Shadow, on his excellent work sniffing out illegal drugs.
By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
Williston City Hall, just months old, is larger, more sophisticated and arguably more beautiful than any in the tri-county area, but its air conditioning doesn’t work properly.
City Manager Scott Lippmann told Williston City Council members Tuesday there are leaks in the new air conditioning units outside the building as well as wiring issues.
One of the latest revelations is that the air conditioning system is apparently bringing too much fresh air into building. The amount far exceeds what is needed.
Lippmann said the subcontractor will arrive on Friday to take a look at the entire system.
“They’re going to be like ants running around here,” Lippmann said.
One of the first problems the council discovered about the air conditioning was the loud background noise it generated in the city council chambers during meetings. The city purchased microphones and speakers to overcome the noise.
Councilman Justin Head filed a good-natured complaint about the microphones. He said the mics are amplifying any sound on the surface of the dais, the curved desk the council sits behind.
Lippmann said they would make adjustments.
Without the microphones turned up, it is difficult to hear discussions by the council members.
“This is still a work in progress,” Lippmann said.
Councilman Charles Goodman, a retired building contractor, instructed Lippmann to make sure the primary contractor, Olerich Construction of Gainesville, has a representative present Friday when the air conditioning system is examined.
Goodman said contractors sometimes try to pin the blame on subcontractors. He said both companies should be present.
County Officials Missing
Councilwoman Marguerite Robinson complimented city staff on the excellent open house celebration the council hosted on June 8 but she was disappointed by the low turnout.
She was also disappointed that no county officials bothered to make an appearance.
“There was not a county person; a commissioner here,” Robinson said.
She said she was told the low turnout was due to lack of advertising. She didn’t agree with that assessment.
“It’s no excuse,” she said.
The open house coincided with the city’s 90th anniversary celebration.
Allowing Horses
The council gave final approval to a change in the city’s development regulations that will allow homeowners to keep horses in single family residential areas if the owner has three or more acres of land and is given a special permit.
Marc and Melanie Nussell asked for a special exception. The permit will allow them to own a horse in a residential zoning category that previously prohibited horses or any other type of livestock. Their special exception spells out the rules and regulations by which they must abide.
Council members gave unanimous final approval to the permit.
Veterans Memorial
Council members said the city is nearing completion of the Veterans Memorial at Heritage Park. Mayor Jerry Robinson held up his hand to show his forefinger almost touching his thumb. He said it’s that close.
Dr. Ken Schweibert, who chairs the Community Redevelopment Agency, a branch of city government that funded the memorial, is laying the final bricks at the sacred site honoring veterans.
Lippmann said the city wants to add a few more plants to the landscaping.
The memorial looks like an artist designed it. People marvel at the memorial’s beauty. Veterans are sometimes seen at the memorial paying silent tribute to those who perished in war.
Retaining Employees
With the city still smarting from the loss of City Clerk Fran Taylor, who has gone to work for the Department of Defense in Maryland, Lippmann was asked if the city was having problems retaining employees.
Lippmann said he believes the pay raises city employees received have helped with retaining employees but he said the problem of hanging onto employees affects more than Williston.
“It’s not just us,” he said. “It’s a very different job market for employers now.”
He said a lot of skilled tradesmen have retired and haven’t been replaced. He said machinists were once plentiful in Williston, but he said most of the machinists have disappeared.
Hiring Clerk
Lippmann said the city has received in excess of 50 applications from people interested in the city clerk’s job.
He plans to assemble a paper file of all the applicants by early next week for the council members to review.
The quantity of applicants is excellent, he said.
“What about the quality?” a council member asked.
“That’s for the council to decide,” Lippmann responded.
Splash Pad?
Head wondered what happened to the idea of establishing a splash pad for children at a city park.
“I was hoping it would go away,” Goodman responded.
Lippmann said establishing a splash pad would place the city in a position of greater liability.
The city manager said the initial estimate for establishing the facility was $150,000.
Nose for Drugs
Robinson said the city police department’s K-9 Unit, Shadow, has driven most of the drugs off the streets in Williston.
He said Shadow, a dog with a superior ability to sniff out drugs, has sent a message to drug dealers, “You’re dead meat,” Robinson said.
Robinson said Shadow may deserve another steak.
Stopping Roof Leaks, Cleaning Mold
Council members unanimously authorized a payment of $14,250 to Manley Steel Buildings, LLC for repairing the roof leaks on the police and fire building.
The council also voted to pay PuroClean $4,413.32 for removal of mold that developed in a portion of the police department was a result of the roof leaks.
Williston’s police and fire building was constructed in 1993.
Goodman voted with the other council members to pay for the repairs even though he wasn’t able to determine exactly what work was performed on the building.
Goodman said he would pay a visit to the building to gauge how the roof was repaired.
City of Williston Regular Meeting June 18, 2019; Posted June 18, 2019
