Bronson Mayor Beatrice Roberts listens closely as the public works director discusses sewer impact fees.
By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
Bronson hasn’t been salting away reserve funds for future expansion of its sewer system, but Town Public Works Director Erik Wise Monday said it’s probably time to get started.
Wise told the Town Council members Monday that Bronson isn’t charging impact fees for new sewer hookups. He said impact fees should be building in reserve to offset the cost of expanding the system in the future.
But there are no sewer impact fees on the books.
Newly appointed Mayor Beatrice Roberts instructed Wise to return with recommended impact fee numbers at the next council meeting in two weeks. The council also wants him to address mandatory hookups to the system.
Roberts and Councilman Jason Hunt were appointed mayor and vice mayor at the council meeting. Hunt, Councilman Berlon Weeks and Councilman Aaron Edmondson were sworn into office by County Judge James T. Browning.
Vice Mayor Jason Hunt studies paperwork before responding to an issue.
Weeks left shortly after being sworn-in due to a leg injury that appeared to be giving him quite a bit of pain.
On the subject of impact fees, Wise said Lake Butler charges a $1,500 fee for residential sewer hookups.
Edmondson, who has served on the council previously, said he remembers discussing sewer impact fees in the past but doesn’t recall what happened after the discussion.
Councilman Aaron Edmondson was sworn in with two other members of the council. Edmondson served on the council previously.
Wise and Clerk Shirley Miller were told to research the city’s ordinances to find out if there is anything on the books regarding impact fees, but Wise was also told to return with suggested numbers for a sewer impact fee.
Edmondson said he believes the city’s sewer ordinance should require residents and businesses to hook to the central sewer system if the line passes in front of their home or businesses.
“I think the town is losing by not having (mandatory) hookups,” he said.
Edmondson said he felt the town should provide some type of incentive for people to hook to the sewer. He said people would still get charged but maybe they could pay off the fee a little at a time.
Wise said he saw nothing in the city’s ordinance requiring residences or businesses to hook to the sewer system. He said residents who have a sewer line passing in front of their home are currently required to pay the base minimum of $34 per month if they don’t hook to the system within a year.
Responding to a question from Edmondson, Wise wasn’t certain how many businesses aren’t currently connected to the new sewer system in the downtown area.
“I think we do need to charge something so if we do have to expand the wastewater we have a little reserve,” Wise said.
Shakers Discussion
One of the owners of a vacant piece of property between Bronson Villas and Villages Apartments and Bronson Community Church said she is up to speed on what the town is requiring of her family for establishing a business on the property.
Julie Yalanis of Family Restaurant Endeavor said the town’s planners want she and her husband Greg to rezone the front of their property commercial for their Shakers Restaurant and zone the back of the property residential for homes.
Julie Yalanis discusses the future site of Shakers Restaurant.
She said the Florida Department of Transportation has approved a 25-foot wide commercial driveway that will also serve the residences behind Shakers. The driveway will consist of lime rock initially. Later it will be paved.
Yalanis will be required to go through two public hearings for the zoning change and for a small scale comprehensive plan amendment connected with the land use change, according to Clerk Shirley Miller.
Annual Cancer Awareness Walk
Council members said they had no objection to the annual Cancer Awareness Walk taking place on the same day as the Annual Trunk or Treat, which is Oct. 26.
Reggie and Barbara Stacy are the sponsors but were unable to attend the council meeting.
Council members said the walk will start near the Post Office and continue down U.S. 27A . The participants will walk in front of a Bronson fire truck for safety reasons. The highway won’t have to be closed for the walk.
Trunk or Treat will take at James H. Cobb Park on Picnic Street in Bronson. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. The cancer walk goes from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It concludes with entertainment at the park.
Buying American Flags
The council approved the purchase of 20 American flags, each 5 feet by 8 feet, for use in the park and along U.S. 27A for holidays.
The purchase also includes an anti-theft security for the flagpole located at the center of the Veterans Memorial at James H. Cobb Park.
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Town of Bronson Regular Meeting October 7, 2019; Posted October 7, 2019
