County Judge James T. Browning swears Lance Hayes and Lewrissa Mainwaring in as Chiefland city commissioners.

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            Without a whisper of opposition from the public, Chiefland City Commissioners voted 3-2 Monday to give final approval to an annual fire tax assessment of $129 on every home in the city.

            The fire special assessment for commercial property is 5 cents per square foot and the assessment for vacant land is $8 per parcel. The assessment will show up on the next property tax bill in November.

            City officials said net revenue from the fire assessment is expected to be $172,846 annually.

            Fire Chief James Harris said most of the money would be spent on hiring firefighters for his department. He said the city’s new $496,000 fire truck, which is under construction will be purchased with a USDA grant and reserve funds from the city budget.

            Homeowners that qualify for extremely low poverty levels can be exempted from the fire assessment. No one has filed an application for the poverty exemption.

            The original deadline to apply for the poverty exemption was Aug. 1 but commissioners agreed to extend the deadline to Dec. 1 largely because the city is known to have a high poverty rate and yet no homeowners have asked for the exemption.

            Commissioner Norm Weaver said he felt the fire assessment was essential to the survival and well-being of the fire department.

            “I know we’re two men short, and every month we get this list of about 900 calls they have to make, and sometimes they’re shorthanded with people that really aren’t qualified,” Weaver said. “A year ago I rode in a fire truck in the parade that didn’t have first gear. We have to buy used vehicles to repair our vehicles. To me, that’s not the way to run the department. We either have to support the department or get rid of the department.”

            Commissioner Tim West said there were a lot of options available but giving the department to county government wasn’t one he would support.

            “I’m not happy about paying it either. I am happy about giving the people of Chiefland good quality fire services. I think that’s the right way to go,” West said.

            The only controversy arose when a reporter asked why West, the outgoing commissioner was being given an opportunity to vote on the fire tax instead of Lance Hayes, the incoming commissioner waiting to be sworn in.

            “Is there something in the charter that says the new commissioner would not vote on this as opposed to the old commissioner?” the reporter asked.

            “It’s irrelevant at this point, its old business,” said Mayor Chris Jones. “Whatever takes place at this point doesn’t matter, its old business.”

              City Manager Mary Ellzey said the city commission always takes care of old business before the new commissioner is sworn into office.

            “Is that the charter or just a practice that you do,” the reporter asked.

            “It’s a practice that has been done since before my time and it’s done in other places,” Ellzey responded.

            Hayes raised no objections from the audience to West being allowed to vote on the fire tax instead of him. Hayes and Commissioner Lewrissa Mainwaring were sworn into office by County Judge James T. Browning following the vote on the fire tax.

            City Attorney Norm Fugate was asked before the meeting if there was anything in the city charter that prevented the new commissioner from being sworn into office before the vote on the fire tax.

            Fugate said he wasn’t sure what they charter said.

            Jones, Weaver, and West voted to approve the fire tax. Commissioners Rollin Hudson and Mainwaring were opposed.

            “Financially, our economy has not recovered,” Mainwaring said explaining why she was opposed to the fire assessment.

            All five commissioners voted to extend the deadline for the poverty exemption to Dec. 1.

            Budget Tentatively Approved

            The board voted unanimously to tentatively approve next year’s budget of $5.2 million with a tax rate of 7.9075 mills, an identical millage to the current year. The new budget begins on Oct. 1.

            The state gives cities and counties the option of adopting the so-called rolled-back rate that would generate the same amount of revenue as the previous year. The rolled-back rate would have generated about $62,000 less revenue. Commissioners decided to stay with the current millage rather than lose revenue by choosing the rolled-back rate.

            Mayor and Vice Mayor

            Jones was unanimously approved for another term as mayor and Weaver was selected as vice mayor.

            Comprehensive Planning, Fee Reductions 

            The board renewed its contract with the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council at a cost of $7,000 for the year 2020-21. The council provides the city with all its professional planning services.

            Commissioners also approved resolutions giving the city a reduction in permit fees from the Suwannee River Water Management District and Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Both resolutions say the city will pay a reduced fee of $100 for each application submitted to the agencies for local projects.

—————–

—————

City of Chiefland Regular Meeting September 14, 2020; Posted September 14, 2020