Planning Director Jackie Gorman said she is moving forward on most of the city foreclosures.

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

                Williston City Council members Tuesday selected four city manager candidates from a list of 107 applicants for board interviews.

            City staff are arranging interviews with Andrew Hyatt of Ponte Vedro Beach, James “Jim” McCroskey of Ormond Beach, James Austin Woods of Hogansville, Ga. and Lyndon Bonner of Ocala.

            Council members reviewed all 107 applications, discussed their individual favorites and chose four finalists. Only one man, Hyatt, received a vote from all five board members and he was the first selected for an interview.

            The council decided they wouldn’t notify the other 102 candidates that they weren’t among the finalists because the board isn’t certain they will choose a city manager from the final four.

            Council members say they have other candidates they liked, but these were the four they agreed would be interviewed.

            Hyatt

            Hyatt holds a master’s in public administration from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a bachelor’s in political science and business management.

            He was the city manager of Neptune Beach from July 2015-June 2019; city manager of East Ridge, Tenn. from Oct. 2013-June 2015; city manager of Etowah, Tenn. Oct. 2007 to Dec. 2009; Community Development manager for Deerfield Beach from March 2004 to Oct. 2007; and senior administrative assistant for human resources, Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department.

            McCroskey

            McCroskey holds a master’s in urban and regional planning from the University of Mississippi and a bachelor’s in urban geography and land management from East Tennessee State University. He attended the University of Wisconsin Madison for municipal utility engineering continuing education.

            He was town administrator for the Town of Estil, S.C. from May 2019 to November 2019; town manager for Greenville, Fla. from Nov. 2016 to July 2017; Town administrator for the Town of Enfield, N.C. from April 2015-Oct. 2015; city manager for Holly Hill, Fla. from March 2011-May 2014; assistant city manager of Daytona Beach Shores from Jan. 2006-March 2011; vice president of business development for Daytona Beach-Halifax Area Chamber of Commerce from Jan. 2002-April 2005.

            Woods

            Woods holds a bachelor’s in business administration from Florida State University in Panama City.

            He was city manager of Dawson, Ga. from Jan. 2, 2019 to Jan. 22, 2020; city manager for Hogansville, Ga. from Aug. 25, 2011-May 18, 2017; city manager of Blountstown from Aug. 11, 2007-March 7, 2011; town administrator of Cedar Grove., Fla. from 1999-2001, city clerk from 1996-1999 and assistant to the mayor from 1995-96.

            Bonner

            Bonner holds a master’s in business administration from Webster University and a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Florida.

            He was county administrator of Jackson County, Fla. from March 5-26, 2018; Brooksville interim city manager May-November 2017; Henry County, Ga. county manager from Oct. 2015-Jan. 2017; Okeechobee County, Fla. county administrator April 2008-2011; Dunnellon director of public services Dec. 1998-2001; Wildwood project planner, senior planner, and emergency management coordinator from Nov. 1993-Nov. 1998.

            Rejecting Waste Pro Offer

            Waste Pro, the city’s garbage collection contractor, offered the city a three year contract renewal that would increase prices 3 percent the first year, and second and third-year increases would be based on the Consumer Price Index.

            The council turned thumbs down on the offer and gave Waste Pro a week to sharpen its pencil and come up with a better offer. The council is ready to advertise for bids if the new offer isn’t satisfactory.

            500 Backpacks

            Interim City Manager Dennis Strow said several city employees joined with community groups and purchased 500 backpacks for Williston students through a joint project. Strow described the project as a “super phenomenal event.”

            Community Garden Project Gets Boost      

            C. J. Zimoski, the city’s utilities director, said Sunstate Meter Company is donating a 2-inch water meter and the equipment to hook it up to the Williston Area Community Resource Organization.

            Zimoski said he contacted the company following the previous council meeting and told a company executive about the community resource organization in its efforts to provide water to grow a community garden.

            He said the meter company executive said his company had a 2-inch water meter it could provide to the private community group to water their garden. The donation is worth about $3,000.

            The organization had asked the city council to donate the meter and equipment to hook it up, but council members were worried about setting a precedent that might lead to other groups wanting the same treatment.

            Former City Manager Scott Lippmann had waived the connection fees for the group.

            Foreclosures

            Planning Director Jackie Gorman said they are moving forward with foreclosures on some of the private properties that have unpaid liens including the old Winn Dixie property.

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City of Williston Regular Meeting August 4, 2020; Posted August 7, 2020