Williston’s Interim City Manager Embraced by Department Heads in New Role as Top Administrator

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

Williston Interim City Manager Terry Bovaird received applause from department heads when the city council voted unanimously at its most recent meeting to officially give him the city’s top administrative job.

Bovaird, who has moved over to his new position after serving for several years as deputy police chief, waved to the senior managers giving him the applause

It is rare indeed for the top manager in any city government in Levy County to receive applause. It was an indication of their acceptance of Bovaird as the city’s highest-ranking administrative official.

The applause gave rise to City Council President Debra Jones saying she has come to City Hall far less with Bovaird in charge than she did previously with the former city manager.

The council meeting was peaceful compared to what residents and the council experienced in the final weeks before former City Manager Jackie Gorman and former Deputy City Manager Deanna Nelson resigned after being asked to leave their positions. City government had been in turmoil when Gorman was in charge.

City administrative staff have advertised the position of human resources director to current city employees to give them an opportunity to apply for the position. The city has a policy in the Human Resources Manual requiring job vacancies to be posted internally for five days before advertising outside City Hall.

When Nelson was hired as the deputy city manager, the position wasn’t advertised internally. Gorman interpreted the Human Resources manual as giving her authority to promote Nelson without advertising the vacant post to other city employees. She said the rule requiring vacant positions to be advertised internally for five days before going outside the city, didn’t apply to hiring the city’s second in command.

Bovaird’s style of leadership is considerably different than Gorman’s.

Utility Cutoff Policy Being Amended

Jones admitted during the most recent meeting that she overstepped her authority as council president to turn the electric power back on for a young couple with a baby whose power had been shut off for non-payment.

Jones said she called power crews and the city manager and asked them to turn the electricity back on. The young parents, both of whom work out of town, immediately paid their bill. They said it had been an oversight on their part.

The council agreed with Jones that the utility bill cutoff policy should be amended to ensure that residents have ample notice that their power is about to be shut off.

Jones said she wants two notices to be given to a resident in danger of losing their power. Councilman Zach Bullock said he would also like to see an email sent to the resident. Most people have some type of access to email.

Bovaird said he has looked at the process and believes at the very least residents need to get a phone call before the power is turned off.

“I fully expect by the next cycle calls will be made,” Bovaird said. “I think we need to have a little empathy when we’re doing our job as city managers.”

Bovaird said his office will review the current policy and bring back changes to the city council for approval.
Williston owns its electric power utility.

Final Rate Hike Approval Given

Council members voted 3-1 to give final approval to an electric rate hike of 8.9 percent. Councilwoman Marguerite Robinson said she has told residents she would oppose the rate hike and she was living up to her promise. Councilman Michael Cox was absent.

Jones, Bullock, and Councilman Elihu Ross voted for the rate hike, the first of its kind in a dozen years.

City officials say electric bills are rising in the city due entirely to fuel cost adjustments. The cost of natural gas, the fossil fuel that powers the city, have tripled in recent months.

The city is also apparently taking a look at an old proposal offered by a previous city manager to use solar energy as a power source for the city. The previous proposal had been to power the city entirely with solar energy panels installed at the city airport.

There was no formal vote by the city council to move forward with investigating the possibility of using solar power.

Federal Appropriation Fizzles

The city’s attempt to secure a $5 million federal appropriation through the office of U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn failed. The application was turned down by Dunn’s office.

Council members wanted to build a new public safety building at the airport with the money.

Dunn’s office said the congressman had sent out notices to every city in his district offering an opportunity to apply for a federal appropriation.

Chiefland didn’t apply for the money.

No-Build Resolution Approved

Council members unanimously approved a resolution endorsing the no-build option for the Northern Turnpike Extension through Levy County.

Jasmine Lovingood, a staunch opponent of the Northern Turnpike Extension, said there is widespread support for the no-build alternative.

“This is greed, not need,” Lovingood said.

Someone asked her if the turnpike extension project has been halted.

“It hasn’t been stopped. It’s a potty break,” she said.