Chiefland City Manager Mary Ellzey was given a one year contract Monday night.

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            Chiefland City Commissioners Monday accepted a $263,000 offer from the United States Department of Agriculture to purchase a badly needed new fire truck.

            Fire Chief James Harris said the fire truck would cost $496,000.

            Commissioners gave Harris permission to take $100,000 out of his department’s fire fund and use up to $120,000 from the city’s general operating fund to pay the remaining cost of the truck.

            The fire department will repay the city’s general fund over a period of about two years

            Harris said it would take about a year to build the truck.

            “It’s a nice truck,” he said.

            The city’s primary pumper truck right now is a 1991 model. Fire trucks last a long time but the older trucks require considerable maintenance at great cost.

            USDA notified the city that it has set aside $263,000 in its budget for the city’s planned purchase of the fire truck. The city won’t be able to order the truck until it receives a letter from the agency awarding the money.

            The notification that the money has been obligated in USDA’s budget means the money is definitely committed to the city for the fire truck purchase.

            The fire truck purchase isn’t connected to the fire tax assessment the city has proposed for the new fiscal year.

Ellzey Rehired

            In other business City Manager Mary Ellzey, a 37-year-employee of the city, was given another one-year contract extension.

            Ellzey earns $68,978 annually under her contract.

            “Are we going to have you another 10 years?” said Mayor Chris Jones.

            “If you’ll have me,” Ellzey said.

            She reminded commissioners she works under a one-year contract.

COVID-19 Utility Plan Remains

            Ellzey said the COVID-19 customer assistance plan the city put in place on March 23 worked well. Thirteen customers were assisted by not being charged late fees or disconnected.

            The city utility customers either lost income or were unable to work as a result of the virus.

            While all 13 customers paid past bills, Ellzey said current bills were due on July 15. She wanted to know if the city wanted to discontinue the COVID-19 assistance plan and require customers to pay in full by Oct. 1.

            Jones said he preferred the city to continue to offer assistance to people who were negatively impacted by the virus for now. Ellzey said the assistance plan would continue.

Selling Park Property?

            Commissioner Norman Weaver tossed out the idea of selling the city property in south Chiefland currently used for festivals.

            Ellzey said she would check to find out if there were any stipulations attached to the property that would prevent it from being sold.

            Weaver said the city was spending $4,000 annually on maintenance of the property and the only thing the property was used for was the Chiefland Watermelon Festival.

            The city at one time had long-range plans to develop the property in a “city square” concept but nothing ever came to pass in that regard.

            Weaver feels that selling the property would generate income for the city and hopefully the buyer could establish a business on the property.

            He said he is tired of seeing everything going to Fanning Springs.

            Commissioner Rollin Hudson said the purchase price on the property was rather high when the city bought it.

Covered Basketball Court

            Weaver, who said he played guard for a state champion high school basketball team and coached the sport at the college-level said more needs to be done for the sport of basketball in Chiefland.

            He wants the city to purchase a cover for the basketball court at Charles Strickland Park to encourage kids to play basketball. He said a covered outdoor court with lighting could be used for tournaments.

            He suggested opening an account to pay for the covered court with the city make an initial contribution of $10,000 as seed money. Commissioners haven’t embraced his plan as yet.

            Weaver said the city spends money on soccer and baseball fields. It needs to take more interest in basketball.

            Basketball has always played second fiddle to football in Chiefland. The city has always been known as a football town.

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City of Chiefland Regular Meeting July 27, 2020; Posted July 27, 2020