Andrea Garcia of Atkins North America, Inc., tells Chiefland commissioners they will get regular updates on the Suncoast Connector.

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            A consultant representing the Florida Department of Transportation made an appearance at the Chiefland City Commission meeting Monday to announce that two companies would be making regular appearances to update the board on planning for the Suncoast Connector toll road project.

            Andrea Garcia, senior project manager for Atkins North America Inc., said the group would be staying in touch with the city commission every month or so to give them updates on the Suncoast Connector but she said they could provide no information at this time on possible routes.

            Garcia attended the meeting with Kevin M. Connor, senior environmental manager for HW Lochner, an environmental design and consulting, and engineering firm for surface transportation projects, and Lee Beasley, senior transportation planner for Lochner.

            Chiefland businessman Stoney Smith said he realizes groups of people don’t want the new road built through forests and other natural areas, and in light of that fact he wondered if the state would consider using an existing highway like U.S. 19 to extend the turnpike through Levy County.

            “U.S. 19 doesn’t have that much traffic and it would be good to use existing roads,” he said.

            Garcia said the DOT is in the pre-planning stages and hasn’t looked at possible routes into Levy County or elsewhere, but when the project moves into the planning stages next year DOT will begin searching for broad corridors that could accommodate not only a toll road but future broadband and utilities.

            “These are multi-purpose corridors. It’s not just looking at where to place the next road, it’s pretty extensive,” she said.

            After the meeting, Garcia was asked by Spotlight if DOT would consider staging some of its toll road meetings and hearings at the College of Central Florida north of Chiefland, which has a large conference center. She said the group she represents isn’t involved in choosing meeting sites.

            The Suncoast Connector and Northern Turnpike Connector are two proposed toll road projects with the potential to impact Levy County. The state wants to extend Suncoast Parkway from State Road 44 in Citrus County, where it currently dead-ends, to Jefferson County in North Florida. The Northern Turnpike Connector would link the Florida Turnpike to the Suncoast Connector.

            Police Chief Scott Anderson asked if would be safe to say that U.S. 19 will continue to be the main north-south highway in Levy County even after the Suncoast Connector is constructed, or would it be fair to say most of the traffic will continue going north on U.S. 19.

            Garcia said it’s too early to say. The determination won’t be made in the pre-planning phase.

            After the meeting, Garcia was asked whether Chunky Pond south of Bronson would be protected from turnpike-related development. She said an advance environmental team will identify sensitive areas but she could not say whether Chunky Pond would be protected or exactly how the process would work for identifying sensitive areas. She said the public would be given a chance to comment on these issues.

Starting Fire Assessment Process

            Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve a resolution that notifies the county tax collector, property appraiser and Florida Department of Revenue that the city has an interest in developing a special assessment on property to pay for fire and other municipal services.

            Commissioner Rollin Hudson voted against the measure. He was concerned about adding a special assessment to the property tax bill of city residents without lowering property taxes.

            “It’s hard for a board to drop property taxes,” Hudson said.

            The board originally discussed creating a special assessment to provide additional funding for fire services within the city limits. When the resolution was brought to the board meeting by City Attorney Norm Fugate, it provided funding for fire and other unnamed city services.

            Commissioners aren’t at the point of adopting the special assessment. A study would most likely have to be conducted to determine how much of an assessment would be levied on homes and businesses. Public hearings would be required to gather input from residents.

Meter Tampering

            The board gave City Manager Mary Ellzey authority to draft language in the city code to address ways to curb water meter tampering.

            This month the city had three water tampering cases. Upon rechecking the meters, city water employees had to turn off meters twice and upon the third visit by city workers the meters were removed. Total water stolen after disconnection was 13,880 gallons.

            The city currently imposes a $20 service fee when city water employees must visit a home to investigate meter tampering. Ellzey wants to increase the fee to $50.

            Chiefland’s current residential utility deposit is $150. The total amount owed by customers caught tampering with their water meter is usually around $300 to $400, according to Ellzey. The city manager recommended increasing the water utility deposit to $300 to $450.

City Police Chief Rehired

            Commissioners approved a one year contract for City Police Chief Scott Anderson.

            He earns $62,730 annually.

            There was little discussion of renewing the contract. Anderson is an experienced police officer who hasn’t accepted a raise in years.

City Commission Appointments

            The appointment of city commissioners to various types of committees occurs every year, but this year there was a bit of sadness.

            The names of two prominent residents, Dennis Andrews and Lyndon Lindsey were removed from the Train Depot Advisory Committee because they passed away.

            Commissioner Rollin Hudson, who chairs the committee, pointed out that both men had passed and their names needed to be removed.

Christmas Festival, Parade Saturday

            The annual Chiefland Christmas Festival and Parade is Saturday. The parade begins at 6 p.m. The festival lasts from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

            The parade floats are adorned with Christmas lights. The parade always draws a big crowd.

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City of Chiefland Regular Meeting December 9, 2019; Posted December 10, 2019