By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            A Morriston man appeared before the Levy County Commission on Sept. 7 to express his concerns about migrants coming across the southern border of the United States through Texas and into Florida.

            “I talked to a guy who followed a bus down U.S. 19/98. He was pretty sure it had a load of migrants. I understand from watching videos they‘re just dropping them in the street,” said Bonaventure Colonnese. “I’m concerned about the demographics changing in the state and voting changing within the state.”

            Colonnese spoke during the public comment portion of the Levy County Commission meeting. He said he was raised in upstate New York on a farm and is familiar with rural areas.

            He said places like Levy County don’t have as many problems with migrants as the cities, but he said he was concerned about migrants coming across the southern border and coming from Afghanistan.

            “That’s going to be a big issue,” he said. “County law enforcement needs to be aware, they probably are, keeping track of what’s going on with different groups coming into the country, to know who they are, where they are and where they come from,” Colonnese said. “I’m just concerned about that.”

            “We need to be aware of that and we need to make sure we take care of Levy County,” said Colonnese, a Vietnam veteran who son-in-law is also a veteran who did two tours of duty in Iraq. His son-in-law also fought in Afghanistan where he lost some friends.

            Commissioners didn’t respond to the comments except to thank him for his military service. The public comment section of the agenda allows anyone to speak on subjects of their choosing. The subject doesn’t have to be an agenda item.

            Colonnese said he moved to Levy County about 2 ½ years ago.

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Board of County Commission September 7, 2021; Posted September 13, 2021