By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
Williston Fire Chief Lamar Stegall on Tuesday proposed establishing a fire assessment in the city to pay for fire protection services but he isn’t sure how much residents would have to pay.
The council agreed to Stegall’s suggestion to invite the Government Services Group (GSG) to explain how a fire assessment would work before deciding whether to pursue the proposal.
Stegall said the council would decide the size of the assessment. The assessment would give the city a stable funding source for fire protection other than property taxes.
Councilman Charles Goodman said the amount of the assessment is “very important” and he wouldn’t support any assessment unless the city’s property tax millage rate was lowered.
“If we have a fire assessment and we do not lower the millage rate I won’t be happy,” Goodman said.
Stegall agreed with Goodman’s position.
“I really wouldn’t support it if we didn’t see a reduction in the millage,” Stegall said.
A fire assessment was considered by the council years ago but was never adopted.
The Levy County Commission levies a fire assessment in the unincorporated areas of the county and distributes a portion of the $2.3 million to cities including Williston. The cities fight fires outside their municipal boundaries.
GSG developed the county’s fire assessment. The private company upgrades the assessment when that becomes necessary.
Currently, 75 percent of Williston property owners pay property taxes. The remaining 25 percent are exempt. Stegall argued that an assessment would require every property owner to pay for fire services and would therefore spread the tax burden.
Williston Council Will Listen to Consultant on City Fire Assessment & Other City of Williston Business
• Dr. Ken Schwiebert, chairman of the Williston Community Redevelopment Agency said a problem in the new Veterans Memorial at Heritage Park has been discovered. He said the holes in two granite slabs don’t match and the center flag can’t be placed in the monument until a solution is found. The architect will take a look at the problem. He apologized to the council. Schwiebert said dedication of the memorial will take place as planned on Armed Forces Day, at 3 p.m., Saturday, May 19. He said $64,500 has been donated by the community for the memorial. He said an additional $16,000 is needed to pay the remaining cost of the granite. He said CRA funds will be used for that purpose.
• The council approved a loan agreement of $2.5 million for construction of the new City Hall. The city’s financial advisor, Steven Bloom, recommended using $1.5 million of city reserves to reduce the annual mortgage payment. Later in the meeting, the council voted to make the City Hall project a formal part of the city budget. The council can borrow up to $3 million for the project.
• Council members approved the first reading of the so-called Doggy Dining ordinance that would allow dogs to be taken to outside dining areas at restaurants. The dog dining areas would be designated for that purpose. The restaurant owner would pay a fee to establish the designation. Dave Bibby, owner of the Pyper Cub Restaurant at Williston
Municipal Airport requested the ordinance after being cited by a health inspector for having a dog in the restaurant.
Bibby, who has owned the restaurant for about 9 years, said he has always allowed dogs to accompany their owners to the restaurant. He said the health department inspector will be coming back. He wants the ordinance adopted as soon as possible. There was no opposition on the council or in the audience. Bibby thanked the council for moving forward with the ordinance.
• Council President Nancy Wininger said there are six privately owned properties with city liens on them. Three of them, including the former Winn Dixie property are in foreclosure. Liens are filed when the property owners have code violations and don’t pay the fines. The city is trying to clean up the municipal landscape. The old Winn Dixie has been vacant for a number of years.
• The most controversial part of the meeting was the good-natured disagreement among council members about what color of carpeting should be used in the new City Hall. The council ultimately came to an agreement on colors everyone could accept.
Photo by Terry Witt: City Manager Scott Lippmann lays out carpet samples for city council members to consider. Shown from the left Council Vice President Marguerite Robinson, Mayor Jerry Robinson, President Nancy Wininger and Councilmen Elihu Ross and Charles Goodman. Not shown is Councilman Justin Head
City of Williston Regular Meeting May 8, 2018
Posted May 9, 2018
