By Terry Witt- Spotlight Senior Reporter       

            Family Dollar Tree’s plan to build a store directly in front of the Levy County Courthouse at the intersection of Picnic and Court streets appears to be dangling by a thin thread.

            Company officials have been told the county won’t let them open a driveway on Court Street, which runs past the courthouse, and their latest proposal to use only Picnic Street for an entrance and exit isn’t looking good either.

            “According to what I saw today, there is a very serious hang up on the county level – the county dealing with the state highway department,” Town Attorney Steven Warm said at Monday’s Bronson Town Council meeting.

            “It’s on the rocks. That’s all I can tell you,” Warm said.

            The project was never popular with Bronson residents at the current proposed location, the site of a historic home formerly owned by the late Bronson businessman Buren Brice.

            Bronson Town Council members approved a zoning change from residential to commercial for the property and granted Family Dollar Tree a reduction in the number of required parking spaces because the lot was too small.

            The approvals came about the same time Family Dollar Tree officials learned that the Levy County Commission owns and maintains Picnic and Court Streets.

            County road department administrators turned down a request for an entrance off Court Street saying the proposed location fell well short of the county’s driveway distance requirements.

            When Family Dollar Tree made a counteroffer to carve an entrance and exit off Picnic Street, the county reviewed the plan but hasn’t given a final answer on whether it will ever win approval.

            Bronson residents have been outspoken in condemning the site as inappropriate for a convenience store. Many suggested the company search out other sites in Bronson.

            Weeks Lawsuit Back in State Court   

            Warm confirmed what most of the council already knew, that the lawsuit filed by former Councilman Berlon Weeks has been moved back to state court.

            Susan Erdelyi, a lawyer hired by the Florida League of Cities to represent the town in the Weeks lawsuit, temporarily moved the litigation to federal court, but Weeks’ attorney, Blake Fugate, moved it back to state court. The Florida League of Cities carries the town’s liability insurance.

            “The Weeks’ suit, which everybody is generally concerned about and following the progress of, was as you know, remanded to the state court a month and a half ago. Since then nothing has really happened. The ball, I would say, is essentially in their court. Nothing is happening. Even when something does happen, we’ll deal with it,” Warm said.

            Warm said he spoke to Erdelyi by phone Monday and she confirmed the lawsuit is back in state court.

            Weeks filed the lawsuit alleging he was illegally removed from office last year on a 3-1 vote of the city council. He said the council doesn’t possess the authority to remove him.

            He said his rights as an elected official were violated by the council’s action and his constitutional rights to due process were also violated. Mayor Beatrice Roberts didn’t allow him to speak when the council discussed whether he should be removed and didn’t permit him to vote on the motion to remove him from office.

            Named as defendants in the lawsuit are Roberts, Councilman Aaron Edmondson, Councilman Robert Partin, Councilman Jason Hunt, former Interim Clerk Melisa Thompson and Warm as attorney for the council.

            Old Gym Proposal

            It has been months since the town proposed leasing the old Bronson High School gymnasium from the Levy County Commission for youth sports. County government has been almost silent on the matter.

            Warm said he is drafting a contract for the council to review and send over to the county office.

            “We never actually got a proposal from Levy County,” Warm said. “What I did was, at the suggestion of our (town) manager, I have a draft contract drawn up that you folks will review at some point and send it over to them and we’ll see if they want to do business.”

             Warm said the council may receive the contract in time to review it at its next council meeting.

            Rebuilding Well Pumps

            Public Works Director Curtis Stacy gave a report to the board regarding matters he was working on but didn’t mention rebuilding the pump motors for Bronson’s two municipal water wells. He was instructed at the most recent council meeting by Roberts to obtain quotes from contractors. The matter seemed urgent at the time.

            “Well, he’s still looking into that,” Roberts responded when asked what was happening with the well motors. “He’s still talking to people about that. It’s not going to be an overnight thing.”

            A reporter said it appeared Stacy hadn’t obtained any quotes for rebuilding the pumps.

            “Isn’t that an emergency?” the reporter said.

            Stacy returned to the front of the room explained to the council that he had talked to two companies about rebuilding both of the well pump motors. One pump would cost about $28,000 to rebuild. He said he will need to get a quote on the second pump.

            “We may be possibly looking at another well,” he said. “We want to get everything in writing.”

            At the previous council meeting, Stacy talked about low water pressure being a problem in some parts of town due to pump problems and mentioned the danger of losing one of the pumps and being unable to provide water service to the community.

            Councilman Returns

            Councilman Jason Hunt participated in the council meeting following what could have been a fatal motorcycle wreck a few weeks ago.

            He said he is sore from the crash. His bike was totaled. He has broken ribs and is doing well as he recovers from head injuries. He feels fortunate to be alive.

            Hunt said his brother-in-law, who was riding with him at the time on State Road 24, saved his life immediately after the wreck by giving him crucial medical assistance until ambulance paramedics arrived.

            He was welcomed back to the council.

            Welcome back Jason.

            Firehouse Taking Shape

            Fire Chief Dennis Russell said construction of the city’s new firehouse, located next door to the Levy County Agricultural Extension Office, is moving along well.

            He said he talked to the builder Friday and was told the plumbing is finished and the concrete floor should be poured in the first week of July. The unassembled portions of the metal building are expected next Monday.

            “He’s hoping to have the building up by September or October. It won’t be completed but we hope to have the structure on the platform,” Russell said. “We’re looking at February before we’re in it.”

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Town of Bronson Regular Meeting June 21, 2021; Posted June 21, 2021