By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
Call it a case of sticker shock Monday night when Chiefland City Commissioners rejected a $50,000 state recreation grant after finding out the city would have to chip in $100,000 of its own.
Commissioners voted 4-1 to notify the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that the city wouldn’t be accepting the Phase 1 grant to begin developing Civic Square Park with a child’s playground, picnic facilities and a multi-purpose trail that would tie into Nature Coast State Trail.
Civil Square Park is located on the opposite side of U.S. 19 from the Chiefland Trailhead. The southern end of Nature Coast State Trail is the Chiefland Trailhead.
City Manager Mary Ellzey said the additional $100,000 in costs associated with the park project would have resulted from engineering and site preparation which were not included in the city grant application to the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP).
She said commissioners had decided they didn’t want to contribute matching money for the grant. Without matching funds from the city, she said the city received the $50,000 grant but was required to foot the engineering and site preparation costs.
Ellzey said she estimated the additional costs high to avoid past mistakes with a couple of previous grants when cost estimates wound up being too low.
As soon as Commissioner Rollin Hudson heard about the additional costs he said his pre-vote was no.
Commissioner Teresa Barron took the opposite view. She couldn’t see turning down $50,000 of state money.
“I think it would be great to get it started. That’s why we applied for the grant,” she said.
Commissioner Chris Jones said he is very fond of that end of town but he said he didn’t think Chiefland could afford the added costs.
The Commission Handled a Variety of Other Issues.
CITY POLICE RAISES?
City Police Chief Scott Anderson told commissioners the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office has received county commission approval for rank and file deputies to receive a $4,000 pay raise and sergeants a $5,000 raise.
Administrative staff received a $2,000 raise.
Anderson said the raises place him at a disadvantage in recruiting and keeping good police officers. He said his starting officers earn $30,000 annually, which is now $4,000 less than starting Gilchrist deputies.
“Food for thought; Budget time is coming,” he said.
Jones suggested the possibility of asking the Wal-Mart Supercenter to contribute money to the police department. Anderson said his department makes about three visits a day to Wal-Mart.
He wondered if was possible for Mayor Betty Walker and the police chief to pay a visit to Wal-Mart to find out if a contribution was possible.
City Attorney Norm Fugate said no attempt should be made to force the issue with Wal-Mart.
“We can’t force them to do anything,” Fugate said. “Anything they would be agreeable to, that would be fine.”
Anderson has been told Wal-Mart would be willing to build a police substation at Wal-Mart but not until the year 2020 when they remodel the store.
HONORING CITY EMPLOYEES
Three city employees were honored for their public service.
Ellzey, who started as a police clerk 35 years ago ascended the work scale and later became deputy clerk and finally city manager.
“Mary is just an extraordinary person,” Walker said. ”She has done a fantastic job.”
Walker described her as “tight with a penny” when it comes to spending tax dollars.
Deputy Clerk Laura Cain, who is Ellzey’s right-hand woman, has worked for the city 15 years. She began in 2003 working at the City Barn. In 2013 she moved to City Hall as the staff assistant. In 2015 she became deputy clerk.
“I couldn’t do my job without her,” Ellzey said.
Chiefland police officer Melissa Watkins was recognized for her five years with the city.
She began as a reserve officer in 2012 and became full-time in 2013. She has received four commendations for her outstanding work since coming to the department. She recently started a non-perishable food pantry at the police station for anyone in need of food.
CLOSING STREETS FOR EPIC BASH
Commissioners voted to close several streets on July 28 for the Epic End of Summer Bash sponsored by First United Methodist Church in Chiefland.
The summer bash is aimed at giving away school materials to children.
Commissioners closed portions of NNE 1st St., NE 2nd St. and NE 7th Ave. from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the 28th.
STRICKLAND PARK SITE OF FUND-RAISER
Commissioners granted permission to a resident for the Ashley Rhodes Benefit Car Show at Charles Strickland Park from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 9.
POSITIVE AUDIT REPORT
Commissioners received a positive 2017 audit report from Jennifer Forrester and Brendan McKitrick of James Moore.
The auditors said the city was well run and its finances were carefully managed.
However, the audit report received approval from commissioners on a 3-2 vote. Split votes are rare for audit reports.
Commissioners Teresa Barron and Rollin Hudson expressed concern that the report did not adequately identify and separate county fire funds and city fire funds.
They said the county was really picky about that issue. The two commissioners said there has been considerable controversy over county fire funding in the past and they didn’t want to risk another fight with the county.
They voted against a motion to approve the report.
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Photos by Terry Witt: Three Chiefland employees were honored by Mayor Betty Walker on the left and Police Chief Scott Anderson. They are Deputy Clerk Laura Cain, City Manager Mary Ellzey, and Chiefland Police Officer Melissa Watkins.
Jennifer Forrester and Brendan McKitrick explain the annual 2017 audit to Chiefland City Commissioners.
City of Chiefland Regular Meeting May 14, 2018
Posted May 14, 2018
