County Coordinator Wilbur Dean introduces Mark Warren (right) as the county’s new agricultural extension agent replacing Anthony Drew.
By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
Levy County Commissioners have turned down a request from the Levy County Guardian Ad Litem program to move its offices from Chiefland to Trenton.
Commissioners voted unanimously at their July 2 board meeting to deny the request to move from its office at Chiefland Shopping Center to slightly higher cost digs in Trenton.
The board had previously offered the program rent-free space in Bronson but Guardian Ad Litem officials turned it down, according to County Coordinator Wilbur Dean.
Guardian Ad Litem official Angela Armstrong said the program wanted to move closer to the Partnership for Stronger Families, its case management agency in Trenton, but she conceded the rent was a little higher.
Levy County provides the bulk of the caseload for the program and splits the cost of renting its space with Gilchrist County. The split is based on the percentage of clients. Levy County pays about 70 percent of the rent.
Levy County currently pays $700 per month rent at Chiefland Shopping Center. The cost of rent at the Trenton site would be $1,450 per month.
Total monthly costs are $1,780 per month in Chiefland under the current lease and would be $1,890 in Trenton.
Chiefland’s utility costs are higher at $450 than at the Trenton. Hudson Foods, owner of the Chiefland site, also charges $240 per month for once a week cleaning services, $148 for property taxes, $50 for supplies, $70 for maintenance and $50 for pest control.
The Trenton lease charges $300 for electric, water and trash, and $140 for janitorial.
But Chiefland comes out cheaper overall.
Commissioners said they weren’t interested in paying higher rent costs when the program could remain at Chiefland Shopping Center for lower costs or could move to Bronson free of charge.
“We’re on the hook for more money and I don’t like that for the taxpayers,” said Commission Chairman John Meeks.
The Guardian Ad Litem contract expires on Sept. 30.
Hiring Ag Agent
Former Agricultural Extension Agent Anthony Drew has been replaced by Mark W. Warren.
County Coordinator Wilbur Dean introduces Mark Warren (right) as the county’s new agricultural extension agent replacing Anthony Drew.
Warren introduced himself to the board at the meeting. His annual $79,900 salary is split between the Levy County Commission, which will pay $31,960 and the University of Florida, which will pay $47,940.
He said it will be difficult to replace Drew.
“Every time I’m introduced as Anthony Drew’s replacement I get a little shocked look,” he said.
Warren is moving to Levy County from Flagler County.
“We’re glad to be here. It feels like home here,” Warren said.
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Board of County Commission Regular Meeting July 2, 2019; Posted July 8, 2019
