By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            Bronson Town Council members cancelled Trunk or Treat Tuesday night on a 3-2 vote.

            The annual event typically occurs around Halloween. Small children accompanied by adults appear in costumes and walk past tents at James H. Cobb Park to get treats from businesses, churches, and civil organizations.

            The three oldest members of the council including retiring Mayor Beatrice Roberts, Councilman Aaron Edmondson, and incoming Mayor Robert Partin said they didn’t feel comfortable holding Trunk or Treat with COVID-19 still a problem.

            The two youngest members of the council, Tyler Voorhees and Jason Hunt, who are the age of young parents, felt Trunk or Treat should be held. Hunt’s motion to move forward with the event failed on the split vote.

            There is talk of one of Bronson’s churches hosting a Trunk or Treat event at a church or actually having it at the traditional site, James H. Cobb Park, but no public announcement has been made regarding the proposal.

            Fire Chief Dennis Russell introduced the subject of Trunk or Treat and cited new COVID cases in Levy County and the region as the reason he was opposed. He said there are 149 new cases in Levy County, a 16.6 percent increase, 1038 in Marion, 64 in Dixie County, 579 in Alachua, and 519 in Citrus.

            “My concern is that with all these cases, even though the numbers are dropping, is spreading it by bringing us all together,” Russell said. “We need to look at bringing all these people together and contaminating.”

            Russell said he would support whatever decision the council made and he was certain his entire fire department would be present to assist with the October event.

            Partin said it bothered him that the town might be “creating the potential here.”

            “It’s a choice people have to make,” he said.

            Councilman Aaron Edmondson said personally he doesn’t go out that much anymore.

            “I try to stay as safe as I can,” he said.

            The council’s newest member, Sherrie Schuler, a school teacher, and athletic director at Bronson Middle High School, was asked about COVID in the school.

            She said the virus is present.

            “I have three volleyball teams and one team I had three girls that tested positive and that’s with us wearing masks, we drink out of separate water bottles, we disinfect, we hand sanitize. Kids are not wearing masks as often as when it first started,” she said. “We do as much as we can. To half the population it doesn’t exist, and half the population it kind of does.”

            She said the Department of Health has issued a new order that gives parents the ability to decide whether their kids should quarantine at home or send them to school if they are not visibly showing symptoms.

            Partin said it’s about like having football games now.

            “That hasn’t stopped. I saw 97,000 head at Florida Field Saturday,” he said.

            When Hunt made his motion to go forward with Trunk or Treat, Partin became the tie-breaker. He was opposed.

            “I’m going to have to say nay. I just don’t feel comfortable with it,” he said.

            Roberts said she doesn’t do large crowds anymore. She also didn’t feel comfortable with Trunk or Treat.

            “Hopefully our city and our country will be better next year with this COVID,” she said.

            Swearing Three Council members

            Roberts Says Goodbye

            County Judge James T. Browning gave the oath of office to Partin, Schuler, and Councilman Tyler Voorhees.

            The swearing-in ceremony took place at the end of the meeting. The council has voted to take off the entire month of October.

            For Roberts, handing the gavel over to Partin meant saying goodbye to a board she has served for two decades.

            She was elected the year of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

            Roberts bade a fond farewell to Town Attorney Steven Warm who spoke via an internet connection. He has begun attending meetings by way of computer since the latest outbreak of COVID.

            “It has been a pleasure doing business with you,” Roberts said to Warm. “The first day I met you, I knew you were a good fit in Bronson. You‘ve been here almost as long as I have. You haven’t disappointed me yet,” she said.

            Edmondson gave Roberts a verbal pat on the back.

            “I just want to say enjoy retirement. I won’t be far behind you,” Edmondson said.

            “I concur,” Partin added as a chuckle rippled through the audience.

            “This is my last night in this seat,” Roberts responded. “It has been a pleasure. I got elected on 9/11. That was a trying thing and these have been trying years, but for the most part, it’s been great. I enjoyed all the clerks from the first to the last; I enjoyed all the public works directors to the last; all the council members. I’m not just stepping down as one new media so eloquently said. I’m retiring. I’m retiring from the Post Office and I’m retiring from City Hall.”

            She has worked as a clerk at the Bronson Post Office for nearly 30 years. She will retire from the Post Office the same day she hangs up the gavel in Town Hall – on Sept. 30.

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Town of Bronson Regular Meeting September 27, 2021; Posted September 27, 2021