By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            Bronson Town Councilman Aaron Edmondson appeared to resign or threaten to resign when he spoke at the May 17 board meeting, but the outcome of his statements was far different than what happened when former Councilman Berlon Weeks threatened to resign on Sept. 15, 2020.

            The council removed Weeks from office a week later.

            When Edmondson left his seat on Tuesday and began walking out before the council meeting ended, Town Attorney Steven Warm stopped Edmondson to ask what he really meant when he talked about resigning from the council.

            “You know what happened with Mr. Weeks. We don’t want a rerun of that,” Warm said. “Were you saying tonight that you resigned?”

            “No. I didn’t say that,” Edmondson responded.

            “Are you saying you will resign as of July?” Warm said.

            “I said I was thinking about it,” Edmondson replied.

            He said he hasn’t made up his mind about leaving office in July.

            Weeks, on the other hand, didn’t have the benefit of Warm being physically present to listen to what he said last September and to ask him the same type of questions he asked Edmondson.

            Warm missed council meetings for almost a year to avoid the possibility of contracting COVID-19, including the night Weeks walked out after threatening to resign. Warm attended the meetings virtually and his voice was broadcast through an old speakerphone placed on the council desk next to the mayor. Warm couldn’t see what was happening in meetings and often the council lost track of him on the phone line or Warm couldn’t hear what was being said by the council. Communications appeared to be spotty on the night Weeks was berated by Edmondson to the point he talked of resigning or not running after his term ended. Weeks walked out of the meeting, just as Edmondson did on Tuesday night.

            The morning after Weeks walked out of the meeting, Mayor Beatrice Roberts made a decision to accept Weeks’ resignation made the night before. Weeks told Warm the same morning that he hadn’t resigned.

            In the months following his forced removal, Weeks filed a lawsuit against Roberts, Edmondson, Councilman Jason Hunt, Councilman Robert Partin, former Interim Clerk Melisa Thompson and Warm himself, alleging he was illegally removed from office and his rights were violated.

            The town’s attorney, Susan Erdelyi, whose fees are being paid by the Florida League of Cities, the town’s liability insurer, managed to temporarily move the case into U.S. District Court, but Week’s attorney, Blake Fugate, last week brought the case back to state court.

            Hunt said the city would be showing favoritism if it cut Sanchez’s trees. He said the town would have to do the same for everyone else in town that might ask for the same consideration. But Sanchez asked how was it fair for him to pay his property taxes only to have the city install a smelly lift station next to his property. He said the lift station was encroaching on his property. The town denied the allegation. Public Works Director Curtis Stacy said the city’s engineering company surveyed the site. Stacy said the lift station was built on the public right of way. Warm instructed Stacy to get a report from the city’s engineers concerning the lift station and its location.

            Edmondson’s statements about resigning from the board followed a chaotic episode when resident Luis Diaz Sanchez became angry while talking to Edmondson. He was angry the city wouldn’t remove three trees from his property to allow him to move a mobile home to his second lot that he said was blocked by a recently installed city sewer lift station.

             The city’s estimate for removing the trees using a private contractor that Sanchez would have to pay was $2,600, but Sanchez said he could get it done much cheaper by using his own contacts in the community. He preferred the city cut the trees. Hunt maintained that the city couldn’t enter private property to cut his trees and he said the city can’t play favorites.

            Edmondson offered to go out and take a look at the property and try to reach a settlement with Sanchez, but the councilman’s comments only made Sanchez angrier than he had been a few minutes earlier. Sanchez whirled around, cursing twice as he stormed out of the council chambers.

            Spotlight Founder Linda Cooper was recognized by Roberts to speak. She said Sanchez had not been given a clear answer, except by Hunt, and the lack of clarity was what triggered his anger. Edmondson accused Cooper of trying to dictate to the council and said he was fed up with the council not having the backbone to support him when he spoke out. He also felt she didn’t have a right to speak as someone who didn’t live in Bronson. But state law allows anyone to speak in a public meeting if recognized by the chairman, regardless of where they live.

            Edmondson said this was his second time serving on the council. His first stint lasted 16 years. He said people begged him to come back on the council, but he said he was frustrated with the council not showing any backbone.

            “We got an election coming up and I tell you, I’m not going to do this anymore,” Edmondson said.

            A few minutes later he said, “I don’t know what I’m going to do but the way I feel I’m going to let you all have this,” he said.

Hunt responded, “Correct me if I’m wrong, but Mr. Edmondson is not up for re-election.” (in September).

“No, I’m not,” Edmondson replied. “But you put my name down on the list with the other three.”

            Three council members, Roberts, Partin and Tyler Voorhees (appointed to replace Weeks) will be on the ballot if they decide to run.

            “I don’t mean no disrespect, but this council ain’t got no backbone,” Edmondson added.

            A few minutes later, after more discussion, Edmondson stood to leave the council meeting early, but Warm intercepted him on the way out, asking him twice if it was his intention to resign.

            Resident Elijah Williams said he believes Sanchez should have gotten better answers and he felt people should be allowed to speak in public meetings. He said too often residents don’t get clear answers to their questions.

            Hunt said he gave Sanchez a clear answer. The town can’t cut his trees.

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Town of Bronson Regular Meeting May 17, 2021; Posted May 23, 2021