Leourissa Mainwaring, manager of Suncoast Federal Credit Union in Chiefland, has sent a letter expressing her interest in being appointed to the Chiefland City Commission. She has worked in banking 20 years, first with Perkins State Bank and now with Suncoast Federal Credit Union.
By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
Chiefland residents will soon see a substantial increase in their residential and commercial water bills.
City Commissioners Monday approved a $4 increase in their residential base rate and a $5 hike in the commercial base rate.
When the rate increase is final in two weeks, the base rate for residential water use will rise from $8.50 to $12.50 and the base rate for commercial from $13 to $18.
The increases must come back to the board in two weeks for approval of a resolution ratifying the increases.
When the city refers to the base rate, it means the basic rate all water users pay every month for a certain amount of gallons.
Andrew Greene, financial management circuit rider for the Florida Rural Water Association, the group that conducted the rate study at no cost, said the city was losing $107,000 yearly using nine-year-old water rates. The last rate increase was 2013.
In an Oct. 2 letter to the city, Greene said aging of the water system, known as depreciation, wasn’t factored into the rate study “as this is a number created by auditors and may not reflect actual conditions.”
He commended the city on operating its water system without increases in rates for nearly a decade in the age of rising costs and increased government requirements.
“You should be congratulated for your water system and operations staff. With unfunded mandates continuing to roll down from state and federal governments along with the aging of pipes, pumps and plants, you have risen to the challenge and continue to operate the system and provide safe drinking water. To make a very difficult job more difficult, revenues have lagged behind expenses. Utility operators have done more with less each year, as measured in real dollars. They have shouldered the responsibility of running the system in a responsible manner and in compliance with state rules and regulations,” Greene said.
Green said the rate increase covers a $72,000 shortfall.
CDBG Grant
At the request of Mayor Chris Jones, the council gave City Manager Mary Ellzey permission to research a Community Development Block Grant that would revitalize older homes in south Chiefland.
Jones was under the impression property taxes couldn’t be collected on homes while they were being rehabilitated, but City Attorney Norm Fugate said he knew of no such requirement. He will research the question.
Ellzey said the CDBG grant cycle opens in February and closes in March of next year.
Future Commissioner?
Leourissa Mainwaring, manager of Suncoast Federal Credit Union in Chiefland, has applied for the position on the city commission vacated by Don Lawrence.
Lawrence moved out of the city and could no longer serve, and Mainwaring, who has lived in the Chiefland area for 30 years, and has been in banking 20 years, recently moved into the city.
Mainwaring, the only applicant for the position thus far, said she believes public service is an obligation.
“It’s what we’re supposed to do is serve the city,” she said.
City Commissioner Norm Weaver, a golfing buddy of Lawrence, said Lawrence highly recommended Mainwaring to serve in his former spot on the board.
She was introduced to the city commission as an applicant for the position. Mainwaring has turned in her letter of interest.
Applicants must apply by the Oct. 28 deadline. They must be a registered voter living within the city limits.
MLK Parade & Banquet
Commissioners gave Pastor Lance Hayes permission to stage the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade on Jan. 20 next year. The parade will result in U.S. 19 being closed. The time of the parade is 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. It starts at Chiefland Middle High School and goes to the Trailhead Park in south Chiefland.
The board also gave Hayes permission to use the Tommy Usher Center for the annual MLK banquet from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11.
Awarding Bids
Commissioners awarded bids to the lower bidders for a road and water project serving an area behind Badcock Furniture in the north part of the city.
The water improvements contact went to GWP Construction, Inc. The bid price was $168,148.90. The road improvements contract was awarded to Art Walker Construction, Inc. The bid price was $128,767.
The area was annexed by the city in 2006 or 2007. There are several businesses on the old slag road that don’t have city water. The slag road isn’t in good shape.
City commissioners budgeted for the improvements out of the water fund.
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City of Chiefland Regular Meeting October 14, 2019; Posted October 15, 2019
