Levy County Commissioners are interested in negotiating with the City of Cedar Key to deed ownership of the county dock to the city. The dock was constructed with federal funding following the destruction of the old dock in a hurricane. Photo by Linda Cooper
By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
County staff members have received 222 applications from Levy County businesses requesting federal CARES Act money for damages sustained in the shutdown of the state and national economy.
The CARES Act was passed by Congress. A portion of legislation aids for businesses that were closed, partially closed or damaged in some way when federal and state governments shut down the economy for the coronavirus.
Alicia Tretheway, county procurement director said the total value of the applications is $918,000 but the number isn’t the final value of what the business owners will receive.
The deadline for filing an application is 4 p.m. on Aug. 28.
The county hasn’t issued any checks to businesses. When the clerk’s office cuts checks for each eligible business, the Levy County Commission will be asked to give final approval to the checks.
Tretheway cited common mistakes by applicants such as not submitting a W9 form, not signing the W9, claiming employees that are not supported by documentation, failing to submit the 921 form and claiming 1099 workers as employees.
The county commission has just under $2 million of federal money to allocate to local businesses through the CARES Act. There is more money available on a reimbursement basis through CARES but the county hasn’t received state guidance on how the money would be distributed.
Tretheway said it takes employee Katrina Sistrunk, who is in charge of reviewing CARES Act applications, approximately 20 to 30 minutes to give an application an initial screening. For each follow-up, it takes 10 to 15 minutes more.
Tretheway also screens the applications. She has sent 57 applications to the clerk’s office.
Transferring Ownership of County Dock
Commissioners approved sending a letter signed by Board Chairman Matt Brooks to the Cedar Key City Commission indicating the county’s interest in transferring ownership of the county dock to the city commission.
The county and city signed a 2013 interlocal agreement concerning ownership and operation of the two-story dock. The county asked to begin negotiations on transferring the dock to city ownership as required by one section of the agreement. “The city’s response was to cancel the ILA (interlocal agreement,) Brooks said. The agreement remains in effect.
“The Board is now interested in reopening discussions to accomplish the transfer of the pier as contemplated in Section II of the ILA (Interlocal Agreement,” Brooks’ letter said.
It isn’t clear at this point if a majority of city commissioners want to take over ownership of the two-story dock on the Gulf of Mexico. The dock was constructed with federal dollars and stands on submerged lands owned by the State of Florida.
Transferring ownership would involve several layers of cooperation between the city and county including transferring the lease of submerged lands to the city and transferring the deed to the city.
County commissioners are sending a letter indicating interest in resuming negotiations on transferring ownership to the city and have included a deed with the letter to make the transfer possible.
The county commission is also interested in meeting with the city commission in a joint workshop to discuss matters of common interest other than the dock transfer, including sidewalks, roads, and the airport.
Cedar Key remains one of the top tourist destinations in the county and the county commission is aware of this fact. Commissioner John Meeks said it behooves both boards to have a friendly working relationship on a range of issues.
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Board of County Commission Regular Meeting August 4, 2020;Posted August 4, 2020
